AN ILLEGAL immigrant working at a Chinese takeaway in Northumberland Heath tried to escape immigration officers as they arrested him during a raid on Friday (JULY 5).

His arrest, at New Beijing City in Brook Street, was one of four made during visits to two food outlets in the area.

Officers arrested the Chinese 26-year-old failed asylum seeker alongside a 22-year-old Chinese woman, who was found to have overstayed her visa.

Earlier in the same day, the Home Office immigration enforcement officers visited Oceans Fish Bar in Colyers Lane, Erith, where two Indian men were arrested.

A 25-year-old was found to have overstayed his visa whilst a 37-year-old had entered the country illegally.

All of those arrested – apart from the 25-year-old man arrested at Oceans Fish Bar – were transferred to immigration detention, pending removal from the country.

The 25-year old man was placed on immigration bail but will also face removal if he is found to have no right to be living in the country.

The businesses were warned they will be fined up to £10,000 per illegal worker unless they can prove they carried out all the correct right-to-work checks.

Head of the south London Home Office Immigration Enforcement team Jill Smith said: “This is the latest in a series of operations we have carried out in south London targeting illegal immigration and illegal working and I hope it sends out a strong message, both to those who are here illegally and those who would employ them.

“While we are happy to work with businesses to let them know what checks need to be made on staff, those who do break the law will face the consequences.

“I would urge members of the public with information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.”

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.