Six arrested as restaurants raided by Scotland's immigration 'ICE Team'

Six people have been arrested in raids on five Glasgow restaurants by Scotland’s Immigration, Compliance and Enforcement (ICE) team.

Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers raided the businesses on Thursday evening “acting on intelligence of illegal working”.

Four men and two women were arrested for having no right to work in the UK and overstaying their visas.

The individuals were of Indian, Iraqi, Columbian, Spanish and Portuguese nationalities and the business premises included the following:

Malaga Tapas West End, Park Road – two arrests
Malaga Tapas Bearsden, Milngavie Road – one arrest
The Malletsheugh, Ayr Road – one arrest
The Marmaris, Stuart Street – one arrest
Lamegos, Glasgow Road – one arrest

Malletsheauth arrest - Home Office — Malletsheauth arrest – Home Office Home Office

All five premises were also issued with Civil Penalty Referral Notices and the employers could face a fine if found liable, the Home Office said.

Lynne Davidson, HM Inspector, Scotland ICE Team, said: “There is no excuse for ignoring employment and immigration rules and those who do should be in no doubt that they will face the full consequences.

“Businesses have a legal requirement to carry out Right to Work checks on employees and we will continue to pursue unscrupulous employers and those who break immigration laws.”

Dame Angela Eagle, UK minister for border security and asylum, said: “Illegal working will not be tolerated under this government. That’s why we are clamping down on those who abuse our system and going after organised criminals who sell false promises to migrants about their ability to live and work in the UK.

“This operation is just one example of the continuous targeted action we’re taking right across the UK to hold rogue employers accountable and finally restore fairness and integrity to our immigration system.”