Officers descend on top London hotel as number of migrants detained while working illegally
Officers descend on top London hotel as number of migrants detained while working illegally
Marriott hotels
Eleven illegal migrants have been arrested after officers swooped on a top London hotel.
Agency staff, from six different countries, were arrested by immigration officers at the London Marriott Hotel Regents Park.
Home Office teams found 11 people employed illegally as cleaners, porters and maids, working 15 hours a day through third-party recruitment agencies.
Five of the illegal workers were detained pending deportation, while a further six were bailed.
WATCH NOW: Ann Widdecombe on migrant crisis
None of them have the right to work in the UK.
One of those arrested had been smuggled into the UK illegally.
Immigration officers across the UK have carried out over 100 visits to businesses in the hospitality sector so far this year.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
None of the detained migrants have the right to work in the UK
Google maps
Suran Padiachie, Deputy Director of Immigration Enforcement and Compliance at the Home Office said: “When the British public pay for a hotel room in Central London, they should be confident that the staff serving them are contributing to society through fair and lawful employment.
“I’m grateful to Marriott for their cooperation with this case.
“Their support allowed my officers to swiftly identify the illegal workers and take action against their third-party employers to ensure they face appropriate sanctions.
“Illegal working exploits vulnerable people and damages the economy, which is why we’re using the full weight of the law to clamp down on rogue employers and remove those with no right to be in the UK.”
The employers of the agency staff working at the Regents Park Hotel have been handed a Civil Penalty Referral notice, which could result in a fine of up to £20,000 per illegal worker.
In August, it was announced that fines for employers who allow illegal migrants to work for them would be tripled.
These fines will come into force at the start of 2024.