TWO men from Albania have been arrested for entering the UK illegally following an immigration enforcement operation at a Ledbury business.

At about 3pm on Thursday, July 21, officers visited Ledbury Hand Car Wash on Bromyard Road.

Staff were questioned to check whether they had the right to live and work in the UK.

Two men from Albania, aged 26 and 25, were arrested as they had entered the UK illegally.

Both men were detained pending their removal from the country.

A third man, aged 25 and also from Albania, was found to have no permission to work due to an outstanding immigration application and was escorted from the premises.

He must report regularly to immigration enforcement while his case is progressed.

The business was served a notice warning that a civil penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found could be imposed.

It will be liable to pay the penalty unless it can demonstrate that the correct pre-employment checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document confirming permission to work. This is a potential total of up to £60,000.

Carol Scarr from West Midlands Immigration Enforcement, said: “Our officers are happy to work with businesses that play by the rules, but where employers are not carrying out the required 'right to work' checks they should expect a visit and potentially a heavy financial penalty.

"Illegal working is not victimless – it cheats the taxpayer, undercuts honest employers and means legitimate job seekers are denied employment opportunities.

“I would urge members of the public with detailed and specific information about suspected illegal working to report it to us.”

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can report it at gov.uk/report-immigration-crime or by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.