Immigration raid in UK nets several Lankans

(October 08, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) A massive immigration raid on a glass factory in Acton yesterday found 13 men alleged to be working illegally. Twenty officers from the UK Borders and Immigration Agency swooped on Toughglaze Ltd in the Chandos Industrial Estate at 11 am and arrested 12 men from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Ukraine, aged between 19 and 43. Officers then raided a flat associated with the business and made another arrest. Three people have been charged with offences relating to having forged identity documents. New laws bought in this February could lead to a bill of pounds 130,000 for the glazing firm, with a maximum fine of pounds 10,000 per illegal worker.

Last Thursday 22 Indian men were arrested at a double glazing factory in Southall following a similar raid by officers who went in and questioned staff and managers.

They were all working at G&B windows in Johnson Street, and 30-year-old Gurjit Singh of Marlborough Road has been charged with having a forged identity document. New ID cards for foreign nationals due to be introduced by the end of the year will make it easier for companies to identify legal workers. - Sri Lanka Guardian