Man and woman from China overstayed visas to work at county Derry takeaway

Acting on intelligence, officers visited Uno Chinese takeaway on Anderson Avenue, Limavady, on Friday (March 11) to ask staff whether they had the right to live and work in the UK.

The Home Office has since reported that a 43-year-old man and 39-year-old woman from China were found to have overstayed their visas and neither one had the right to work in the UK.

Both have been transferred to immigration detention while steps are taken to remove them from the country.

The takeaway is facing a fine of £20,000 per worker, unless it can prove that the appropriate right-to-work document checks were carried out.

Mike Golden, from Immigration Enforcement in Northern Ireland said: “We are working hard to counter illegal working and those who abuse the UK’s immigration system.

“Using illegal labour is not a victimless crime. It cheats the taxpayer, undercuts businesses who ply an honest trade and deprives legitimate job seekers of employment opportunities.

“There are simple checks employers can carry out to ensure their employees have the right to work in the UK. Those who choose to ignore the rules will face the consequences.

“I would urge anyone with detailed and specific information about suspected immigration abuse to contact us.”