Arrest after Home Office raid at Heathgate shop in Norwich

The man was arrested after Immigration Enforcement officers raided the Londis convenience store in the Heathgate estate, next to Mousehold Heath.

A Home Office spokesman confirmed: "One Indian male was arrested for breach of his visa conditions and taken to police custody pending transfer to an immigration removal centre."

The shop's premises license will be reviewed by the city council (Image: Denise Bradley)

Anyone found guilty of employing someone they knew or had "reasonable cause to believe" did not have the right to work in the UK can be sent to jail for five years and pay an unlimited fine.

This can include them not having permission to enter or remain in the UK, a ban on certain types of work or having incorrect/false papers.

READ MORE: Thousands of pounds stolen in Taverham burglary

The Londis shop's premises license is also under review by Norwich City Council, with a hearing set to be held following the closure of a public consultation on November 21.

The options for action at the hearing range from no further action through to removal of the premises licence.

The arrest was made on Thursday, October 5. However, the store's customers may be surprised to hear the news - with the Londis remaining open as of Friday.

The shop remained open as of Friday (Image: Denise Bradley)

The brand's parent company Booker Group - which is also owned by Tesco - has been contacted for comment. 

A Home Office spokesman said: "Illegal working causes untold harm to our communities, cheating honest workers out of employment, putting vulnerable people at risk, and defrauding the public purse.

"Illegal working visits are up by more than 50pc on last year and arrests have more than doubled, with more people arrested in 2023 than during the whole of 2022. We are also removing those with no right to be in the UK."