IMMIGRATION officers have raided a Southampton chip shop after two members of staff were found to be working in the city illegally.

Officers wearing protective stab vests surrounded Chippy Chips in Shirley and sealed off the exits as they entered the shop in Shirley Road to question employees.

After checking identity documents, officers then visited the homes of the two men to locate passports and are now taking steps to remove them from the country. I mmigration officials are now warning illegal workers in the city that they are cracking down on those who break the law and that employers would be targeted too.

"I am absolutely committed to rooting out people working illegally in Southampton," said Tony Smith, Border and Immigration Agency regional director for the south east.

"Immigration officers are focusing on gathering hard intelligence and acting on it to ensure our laws are not abused.

"We have teams throughout the country who visit businesses to ensure they are not breaking the law. He added: "Our message to employers is - if you employ illegal workers you could be named and shamed and face criminal charges.'' The operation comes at a time of massive reform to the immigration system.

A tough, Australian-style points based system for managing immigration is being introduced at the beginning of next year.

If employers are found to be in breach of their obligations as sponsors they can be stripped of their licence to employ workers under the new system.

The owners of Chippy Chips have received an information pack about illegal working and if evidence is found that they knowingly broke the law, they will face prosecution.

The manager of Chippy Chips declined to comment to the Daily Echo.