High-street restaurant chains in illegal workers swoop

Zizzi and PizzaExpress have got into hot water with the UK Border Agency after four chefs were found to be illegal immigrants.

Acting on intelligence, a specialist team visited Zizzi Restaurant in Tombland, Norwich at around 18.15 on 28 July 2009, sealing all exits before searching the premises and checking identity documents. They found two Brazilian men, aged 21 and 27, working in the kitchen who had overstayed their visas and did not have permission to work in the United Kingdom.

Checks also revealed that the pair had used fake Italian identity cards to gain employment. They were immediately taken into detention. The 21-year-old was removed from the United Kingdom on 31 July, while the 27-year-old was removed on 1 August.

The business was issued with an on-the-spot penalty notice for employing illegal workers and may now face a fine of up to £20,000. To avoid a heavy fine, the business must prove to the UK Border Agency that they carried out the correct right-to-work checks for employing workers from outside the European Union.

This was the second time the restaurant has been visited by immigration officers. Two years ago four Brazilian illegal immigrants were found illegally working. These were all removed from the United Kingdom.

In addition to this raid, PizzaExpress in Bishop's Stortford, Essex was found to be employing illegal workers too.

Officers visited the North Street restaurant at 11.00 on Thursday 30 July, arresting two men - a 29-year-old Palestinian and a 40-year-old Egyptian.

Both were taken to Hoddesdon Police Station where they were charged with false document and fraud offences. Officers subsequently visited the 29-year-old's South Street home where they found a 35-year-old Egyptian who was living in the United Kingdom illegally.

He voluntarily produced his Egyptian passport and was removed from the United Kingdom back to Egypt on Sunday 2 August.

The two chefs appeared at Hatfield Magistrates Court on Friday 31 July and have been remanded in custody until 5 October when they are due to appear at St Albans Crown Court.

PizzaExpress fully co-operated with the UK Border Agency investigations and will not face any action.

Words: Clare Riley

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