Five arrested in immigration swoop on Ayr

Aug 22 2008

IMMIGRATION officers swooped on two Ayr restaurants and arrested five men.

The illegal workers look set to be deported and their employers hit by massive fines.

PK Indian restaurant and Uno's Pizzeria were targeted in the intelligence led operation.

The UK Border Agency arrived in Ayr on Friday night and demanded to see documents for staff at both businesses.

Two men were later arrested at the PK in Main Street and three at Uno’s in the Sandgate.

All five men are Indian and steps are already being taken to remove them from the UK.

Both businesses were issued with on-the-spot notices, warning them that they face civil penalties of up to £10,000 for each illegal worker if further investigations prove that proper checks weren’t made on their employees.

Agency boss Phil Taylor explained: “We will not tolerate illegal working in Scotland and that is why the UK Border Agency is carrying out operations like these ones in Ayr every week.

“Employing illegal workers damages our communities and we are determined to step in and identify those businesses who are breaking immigration laws and to remove those people who do not have the right to be in the UK.”

PK is owned by Iqubal Sihota, who was reprimanded by South Ayrshire licensing chiefs earlier this year.

He was ordered to adhere to an undertaking that he would have no part in running the restaurant, for which his wife Kashmir Kaur Sihota holds the licence.

Police objected to him getting the licence, saying that he was unsuitable because he has convictions for breach of the peace and assault.