Almost 100 arrests were made after police raided nail bars in relation to immigration offences. A total of 97 people were held during the week-long operation launched at the end of last month. It also saw dozens of businesses warned they could face fines and 14 people identified as potentially being at risk of modern slavery.
The activity was part of Operation Magnify, a cross-government drive to clamp down on illegal working by targeting specific ‘risk’ industries.
The operation, led by Immigration Enforcement, took place from November 27 to December 3 and saw officers visit more than 280 businesses across the UK. The majority of the 97 people arrested were Vietnamese nationals, but the number also included suspected immigration offenders from Mongolia, Ghana, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and India.
Those who are potential victims of trafficking will be offered support, while those who have no right to be in the UK will be removed, the Home Office said.
Officers also issued notices to 68 businesses warning them they may be liable for financial penalties of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found if they cannot provide evidence that appropriate right to work document checks were carried out.
Operation Magnify is an initiative aiming to tackle exploitative employers who provide low-paid jobs to illegal migrants. It focused on the construction, care, cleaning, catering, taxi and car wash industries during 2016, with further activity in similar sectors planned for 2017.
