Two people arrested in illegal working raids at Penwortham businesses
Two people were arrested after immigration enforcement officers visited two Liverpool Road premises following intelligence about suspected illegal working.
Two people have been arrested after immigration officers carried out raids at two premises on one of Penwortham’s busiest roads.
Home Office enforcement teams visited the Liverpool Road addresses on Tuesday, after receiving intelligence about suspected illegal working.
The operation led to two arrests, while one of the businesses was served with a Civil Penalty Referral Notice.
That does not mean a fine has yet been issued, but it means the Home Office will now carry out further inquiries to establish whether the employer is liable.
The Home Office Civil Penalty Compliance Team will review the evidence before deciding whether to issue a Civil Penalty Notice.
If the business is found to have employed illegal workers and failed to carry out proper pre-employment checks, it could face a substantial fine.
Civil penalties can reach up to £45,000 per illegal worker for a first breach, and up to £60,000 for repeat offending.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Illegal working undermines honest employers, undercuts local wages, and fuels organised immigration crime. This government will not stand for it.
“Since coming into power, we have increased immigration enforcement action to the highest level in British history. This has delivered an 83% rise in illegal working arrests and 77% rise in raids.”