Arrests After Immigration Crackdown in Southall

Joint operation to tackle illegal workers

Eleven people have been arrested by the UK Border Agency following a joint operation to tackle illegal workers in Southall.

At around 7.15 on the morning of Tuesday 12 March, agency officers, together with colleagues from the Metropolitan Police, attended a location on King Street, targeting individuals who gather in the area looking for casual labour

They arrested 11 men, all Indian nationals aged between 28 and 65. Ten were in the country illegally having over-stayed their visas. One, a 46-year-old, had entered the UK illegally.

Ten of the 11 have been detained by the UK Border Agency pending their removal from the UK. The remaining man was granted immigration bail while his case is dealt with, but he also faces removal.

Assistant Director Sarah Burton, from the UK Border Agency, said:

“We are working closely with the Metropolitan Police to tackle illegal immigration and for those who are in living and working in the country illegally there is no hiding place.

“My officers are out carrying out operations like this almost every day across West London targeting those who are here illegally and those who would employ them.”

Chief Inspector Colin Wingrove, from Ealing Police, said:

“This is another excellent example of partnership working to tackle illegal immigration and other related crime in our communities.

“This forms part of our wider work to reduce this type of criminality on the borough”.

In June 2012 UK Border Agency and police officers carried out a similar operation at the same site. On that occasion 36 individuals were arrested.

13th March 2013