Illegal workers arrested at 2012 Olympic site

The UK Border Agency has announced the arrest of over 90 people at the east London site of the 2012 Olympic Games following a crackdown on illegal workers.

In order to better monitor the Olympic Games site, the UK Border Agency has established a permanent base in Stratford, with officers making some 93 arrests during the period from April to November this year. Of those arrests, 85 cases involved alleged immigration offences.

In all, 41 of the arrests were for the use of fake passports or additional fraudulent documentation. It is understood that so far 23 people have been deported from the UK for their offences.

The Olympic Games 2012 has been the scene of widespread protests over the use of foreign workers which UK-based groups such as the Unite and GMB unions have been highly critical of, claiming organisers are taking jobs away from local workers. An EU directive allows for any EU company to employ staff from other EU member nations for a short time period, although management has claimed that 70 percent of the Olympic workforce is made up of Britons. The arrests will do little to stem protestor’s claims that cheap overseas agency workers are breaching labour arrangements.

Senior director of the UKBA Olympic programme Tony Smith has said that the permanent stationing of officers at the site will ensure not only that the event is delivered on time but with a fully legal workforce.