Asylum seeker arrested after immigration raid at Chorley Chinese takeaway

The raid took place at the Ariel Chinese takeaway, Pall Mall, Chorley, with a number of officers descending on the takeaway at around 6.30pm on Friday.

understood that the officers were acting on intelligence provided to them.

A Home Office spokesman said a man at the premises was detained during the visit and subsequent checks by immigration officers showed that he was in the country illegally.

Proceedings have begun to repatriate the 27-year-old man back to his home country of China, said the spokesman.

Matt Phillipson, who lives nearby, said he saw officers leaving the takeaway with at least one person.

He said: “There were immigration enforcement vans parked on Carrington Road.

“There were several officers in the shop and they were there for some time.

“It was quite dramatic and an unusual thing to see in Chorley as it was clear that they weren’t normal police officers from the fact that the vehicles were marked.”

The Ariel takeaway, which has been established for several years, was open as normal later the same evening.

The Home office has not said whether the arrested man was working at the premises at the time of his arrest.

Immigration Enforcement is an operational directorate within the Home Office responsible for enforcing immigration law.

A Home Office spokesman said: “A 27-year-old man from China was arrested after checks revealed him to be a failed asylum seeker.

“He has since been granted temporary release while further steps are taken to remove him from the UK.”

“We would urge members of the public with detailed and specific information about suspected immigration offending to contact us.”

At the time of going to press, nobody from the Ariel takeaway could be contacted.