Immigration officers raid Nailsea restaurant UPDATED

A Nailsea restaurant was closed last night after a raid by immigration officials.

UK Border Agency officers supported by local police carried out simultaneous raids to Posh Spice, High Street, Nailsea and Yatton Tandoori, High Street, Yatton, at 6pm on Wednesday, May 2.

Eleven Bangladeshi men were arrested.

After the immigration status of staff was checked, six men from Posh Spice were taken to Trinity Road police station, Bristol, where they are being questioned over suspected immigration offences.

At Yatton Tandoori, five men were arrested and taken to Weston-super-Mare police station for further questioning. 

Yatton Tandoori was also closed for the evening following the raid.

UK Border Agency spokesman Chris Herdman said: "If the 11 men are confirmed to be immigration offenders, steps will be taken to remove them from the UK."

UK Border Agency south west regional director Jane Farleigh said: "Illegal working has a serious impact on communities, taking jobs from those who are genuinely allowed to work and undercutting law-abiding businesses.

"We are determined to crack down on businesses which ignore our immigration laws. 

"Our officers carry our regular raids targeting illegal workers and more are planned."

Both of the businesses visited face fines of up to £10,000 for each illegal worker unless proof is provided that the correct pre-employment checks were made.

Every year, the UK Border Agency imposes civil penalties on hundreds of companies which fail to carry out legally-required checks on their staff.

The UK Border Agency provides support to employers so they can understand the rules, including visits by staff, a dedicated telephone helpline and website.

Anyone who has information on suspected immigration offenders can visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/contact/report-crime/.

In May 2010 a similar raid took place and four  illegal workers were found at  Posh Spice and Yatton Tandoori.

At Yatton Tandoori checks on the immigration status of staff revealed that three men had no legal right to work in the UK.

The three, aged 25, 28 and 28 and all from Bangladesh, were stopped from working and steps were taken to remove them from the UK.

At Posh Spice, a 29 year old Bangladeshi man was found to have stayed illegally in the UK after his work visa expired.

Both restaurants were served with a civil penalty notice for employing illegal workers.

UPDATE: UK Border Agency said on Friday afternoon that eight Bangladeshi men remain in detention after 11 were arrested in raids targeting illegal working at restaurants in Nailsea and Yatton.

After immigration checks six men from Posh Spice were arrested and taken to Trinity Road police station, Bristol, for further questioning. 

Three men, aged 30, 33 and 40, were found to have stayed in the country after their visas expired, while a 23-year-old had entered the UK illegally.

They will now be transferred to immigration detention pending removal from the UK.

Two men aged 26 and 30 arrested on suspicion of immigration offences were bailed to report to a local police station while further enquiries into their immigration status are carried out. 

At Yatton Tandoori, five men were arrested and taken to Weston-super-Mare police station for further questioning. 

Two men aged 21 and 27 were working in breach of the conditions of their visas, a 26-year-old had overstayed his visa and a 39-year-old was found to have entered the UK illegally.

The four were detained while work is carried out to remove them.

The fifth man arrested was bailed for further enquires into his immigration status to be carried out.