Eleven arrested in Hereford immigration operation

Eleven people were arrested during a multi-agency operation targeting suspected immigration offences in Hereford retail premises on Friday evening (May 2).

Officers from Hereford city centre team were supported by police colleagues and partner agencies to swoop on six locations in response to intelligence suggesting the employment of illegal workers and those not permitted to be in the UK.

They were joined by Immigration Enforcement, Hereford and Worcester Fire & Rescue Service and Herefordshire Council Environmental Health and Housing Enforcement and Licensing Enforcement.

Working together, we were also looking to protect those who are housed in dangerous sub-standard accommodation and poor hygiene conditions, at the locations targeted for the operation.

The 11 arrested either had no right to work or no right to reside in the UK.

Those arrested were processed by Immigration Officers who also served several civil penalty notices on the owners of the businesses which can be up to £60,000 per illegal worker identified.

The fire service also identified deficiencies and failure to meet basic safety requirements in several retail premises inspected. They were as follows: -

• A premises was issued a Prohibition Notice to prevent sleeping on the first floor, and an Enforcement Notice was issued.
• A premises was issued with an Enforcement Notice due to failure to carry out a fire risk assessment, inadequate fire safety management, inadequate measures to prevent fire, means of escape insecure, emergency procedures and drills are not established, unsuitable maintenance and testing, and inadequate training for employees.
• A premises was issued with a Prohibition Notice for the second floor due to the bedroom being an inner room with no secure means of escape and a faulty fire alarm.
• A premises was issued with Enforcement and Prohibition Notices on flats to the rear of the property.
• A premises was issued with a Fire Safety Matters letter with a completion time of three months for failure to carry out a fire risk assessment, inadequate fire safety management, inadequate measures to prevent fire, inadequate measures to reduce the risk of fire spread, unsuitable maintenance and testing and inadequate training for employees.

Police Sergeant Duncan Reynolds, of Hereford city centre team, said: “Working with partner agencies, we responded to intelligence suggesting several food retailers were employing illegal workers and those not permitted to be in the UK.

“Targeting six premises, we arrested 10 males and one female who were then processed by Immigration Officers.

“Further enforcement work will now take place with partner agencies, to look at the current operating models of those businesses along with further enforcement and compliance visits.

“We would urge the public to report any concerns with similar businesses across the county to us at Report a crime | West Mercia Police as we are keen to crack down on illegal activity that exploits vulnerable workers.”