A shop in Corsham has been fined £20,000 after an illegal immigrant was located.
The man, from India, was found working at Londis, in Pickwick Road, on Wednesday (19 October) when the premises were raided by immigration enforcement officers.
The Home Office told Wiltshire 999s that the man “was found to be working illegally after overstaying all his permitted leave to remain in the UK”.
They confirmed that as a result, he was arrested and detained ending his removal from the country.
A Civil Penalty Referral Notice was also served to the employer, who now faces a penalty of up to £20,000.
The fine will have to be paid by the Londis franchisee unless they can provide evidence that they checked his documentation to ensure he had the legal right to work in the UK.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The government is tackling illegal immigration and the harm it causes by removing those with no right to be in the UK. We continue to work with law enforcement agencies to tackle illegal migration in all its forms.
“Our Nationality and Borders Act will fix the broken system; making it fair to those in genuine need and firm on those who seek to abuse it.”
Wiltshire Police accompanied the immigration enforcement team on the raid, alongside licensing staff Wiltshire Council.
A Londis spokesperson added: “All Londis stores are independently owned and operated. We take these matters seriously and are picking up with the retailer directly.”
The news comes less than two weeks after neighbouring business, Amore Italian restaurant, was raided by the Home Office. During that operation, a number of people were found working illegally – including a Brazilian national and three Albanian nationals.
