Man held in Wednesbury in immigration swoop

Feb 26 2008 By Will Oliphant, Birmingham Mail

POLICE and immigration officers arrested a man as they swooped on a Wednesbury fish and chip shop this afternoon at the start of a crackdown on illegal workers.

They raided the Hydes Road Fish Bar in Hydes Road, Wednesbury.

Police and 16 immigration staff were involved in the swoop, questioning three people in connection with reports of illegal workers at the business before detaining one man.

He was taken to West Bromwich police station for questioning.

The swoop was the first of several which were planned across Birmingham and the Black Country.

Immigration Service spokesman Simon Ballinger said: "This operation is designed to tackle illegal workers in Birmingham and the Black Country.

"It's a problem because illegal workers are often on low wages and undercut the wages of British workers.

"There are rogue employers out there and we will crack down hard on companies who illegally employ workers without the right to be here."

He added: "It is a significant problem for the region's economy because obviously people working here illegally are also not paying tax."