IMMIGRATION officers have swooped to arrest three illegal workers at a Hampshire restaurant.

Home Office immigration officers raided Aroma Indian and Bangladeshi Cuisine in Long Lane, Holbury, to check if staff had the right to work in the UK.

According to the Home Office, a 29-year-old man was found to have entered the country illegally while two other men - aged 39 and 40 - had overstayed their visas.

The three men, all from Bangladesh, are in immigration detention while steps are taken to remove them from the country.

A 52-year-old Bangladeshi man was found to be working illegally and placed on immigration bail.

Officers served the business with a notice warning a civil penalty of up to £10,000 per illegal worker found will be imposed unless proof is provided that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out.

Carla Johnson, from the Home Office Immigration Enforcement team in Hampshire, said: “We regularly carry out operations like this in Hampshire. Where we find people who are in the UK illegally we will seek to remove them.

“Illegal working has a serious impact on communities, undermining legitimate businesses and taking jobs from those who are genuinely allowed to work at a time when the country can least afford it.

“We are happy to work with businesses to let them know what checks need to be done on staff. Those who choose to break the law should know that we are out there looking for them and they will face heavy fines.

“I would urge members of the public with detailed information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.”

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/business-sponsors/preventing-illegal-working/ or they can call the employers helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 anonymously or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.