Norwich newsagents' arrests
A Norwich newsagents has been forced to close after all three members of staff were arrested by the UK Border Agency
A Norwich newsagents has been forced to close after all three members of staff were arrested by the UK Border Agency.
Officers from the Norfolk immigration team raided St Johns News, in St Johns Close, off Hall Road, at about 2pm on Tuesday.
Immigration checks revealed that the two members of staff, plus the newspaper delivery man who had just returned from his rounds, were all in the UK illegally.
The three men - a 46-year-old, a 35-year-old and a 45-year-old - were all from Sri Lanka and had overstayed their visas.
Another illegal immigrant - a 27-year-old failed asylum seeker from India - was found in the accommodation above the shop.
All four men were arrested and have been placed in UK Border Agency detention while arrangements are made for their removal from the UK.
Most Read
- 1 House swap sees woman move into home infested with fleas
- 2 Party in the Park coming to Norwich with global food, stalls and music
- 3 Norwich man charged with kidnap after posing as a taxi driver
- 4 Single mum resorts to sleeping in her car due to 'unlivable' flat
- 5 Team behind Golden Triangle pub take on Edith Cavell in Norwich
- 6 Major changes coming to the sale of domestic fuels
- 7 Your chance to meet The Bill star who has moved to Norfolk
- 8 Michael McIntyre and Robert Rinder spotted at Carrow Road
- 9 Thorpe Road closes to all traffic as resurfacing work begins
- 10 Woman with incurable cancer left devastated after car and jewellery stolen
St Johns News now potentially faces a fine of up to �30,000 - �10,000 per illegal worker - unless it can prove that the correct pre-employment checks were carried out.
Insp Colin Daulby, from the immigration team, said: 'If people want to work in the UK, there are ways they can apply to come here legitimately.
'If they decide to ignore immigration laws, we will find them and look to remove them from the country.
'Anyone in Norfolk who employs a foreign national without permission to work is breaking the law and undermining law-abiding businesses.
'Employers have a legal responsibility to carry out the right checks.'
Guidance for employers on preventing illegal working can be found on the UK Border Agency website, www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employingmigrants or by calling the UK Border Agency Employers Helpline on 0845 0106677.
Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed in Norfolk should contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
