<p>During an intelligence-led operation at a company called Drinkwater Mushrooms, the enforcement team, supported by Lancashire police, encountered men and women from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal at Hampson Farm, Galgate, near Lancaster.<br /><br />However, it was not clear how many Indians were arrested.<br />Arrests were made for offences such as illegal entry, working in breach of visa conditions and overstaying permission to be in the UK.<br /><br />The employer will be given 28 days to provide the UK Border Agency with evidence that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out or face a fine of up to 10,000 pounds per illegal worker, or 270,000 pounds in total.<br /><br />Steps are now being taken to remove illegal workers from the UK.<br />Damian Green, Immigration Minister, said: We will not tolerate illegal working, in Lancashire or anywhere else - it undercuts British wages and exploits vulnerable workers.<br />As long as there are illegal jobs, the UK will be an attractive place for illegal immigrants.<br />That's why we have to put a stop to employers who don't play by the rules".<br />The arrests, he said, were part of a continuing clamp down on illegal working in Lancashire to reduce the attractiveness of the UK to illegal immigrants.<br /><br />"There are strict rules about which foreign nationals can get a job in the UK and businesses have a clear responsibility to carry out the right checks", he said.</p>
<p>During an intelligence-led operation at a company called Drinkwater Mushrooms, the enforcement team, supported by Lancashire police, encountered men and women from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal at Hampson Farm, Galgate, near Lancaster.<br /><br />However, it was not clear how many Indians were arrested.<br />Arrests were made for offences such as illegal entry, working in breach of visa conditions and overstaying permission to be in the UK.<br /><br />The employer will be given 28 days to provide the UK Border Agency with evidence that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out or face a fine of up to 10,000 pounds per illegal worker, or 270,000 pounds in total.<br /><br />Steps are now being taken to remove illegal workers from the UK.<br />Damian Green, Immigration Minister, said: We will not tolerate illegal working, in Lancashire or anywhere else - it undercuts British wages and exploits vulnerable workers.<br />As long as there are illegal jobs, the UK will be an attractive place for illegal immigrants.<br />That's why we have to put a stop to employers who don't play by the rules".<br />The arrests, he said, were part of a continuing clamp down on illegal working in Lancashire to reduce the attractiveness of the UK to illegal immigrants.<br /><br />"There are strict rules about which foreign nationals can get a job in the UK and businesses have a clear responsibility to carry out the right checks", he said.</p>