Dorset Immigration Officers Remove 138 Illegal Workers

Illegal workers in Dorset have cost their employers almost £120,000 after the UK Border Agency discovered the illegal migrant workers back in 2009. Out of the illegal workers, up to 140 immigration offenders were deported from the UK by the end of 2009 after being exposed as living or working illegally in Dorset.

The immigration officers in Dorset, who are based in Poole, led stings to expose employers illegally employing migrant workers across the area including neighboring Somerset and Wiltshire counties. From January 2009 to December 2009, the team of officers made 36 raids at places known to be employing illegal immigrants.

Upon the employees being found out, officers issued business in noncompliance with a warning and a notification of possible fines that would be incurred. Fines can total up to £10,000 for each illegal worker being employed by a business.

Businesses, however, were given the opportunity to provide evidence that they had carried out a document check of the illegal working by obtaining a copy of their passport. If unable to do so, however, the business would then be subject to a hefty fine.

In total, last year, 138 individuals were deported from the country after being found in Dorset living in the country illegally or working without the proper work permit. In Weymouth last year in October, five men, three Chinese and two Malaysians, were discovered working at the Sea View restaurant illegally. Several cases such as this one took place last year resulting in the removal of hundreds of illegal immigrants.