Firms fined thousands for employing illegal staff

Akash Tandoori, in South Benfleet, was fined £40,000

Three Essex companies have been fined thousands of pounds by the Home Office for employing illegal workers.

Immigration Enforcement figures reveal Akash Tandoori, an Indian restaurant in South Benfleet, was fined £40,000, the biggest penalty in the county.

Sunu's Kitchen, another Indian restaurant in Thorpe-le-Soken, and Great Dunmow-based Flitch Hand Car Wash were fined £20,000 and £15,000 respectively, data shows.

The three businesses did not reply to the BBC's request for comment.

The details of illegal worker penalties are released every three months. The latest data relates to fines issued between 1 January and 31 March.

Businesses found to be employing people illegally face fines of up to £45,000 per worker for the first offence, and up to £60,000 per worker for repeat offences.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans for Immigration Enforcement to "intensify" operations over the summer, as part of Labour's plans to improve border security.

Last month, she said she wanted to achieve the highest rate of removals of people with no right to be in the UK since 2018, and announced a new "intelligence-driven" plan to tackle businesses employing people illegally.