Dodgy high street bosses using vape shops or barbers as fronts face fresh crackdown
The Home Office is launching a crackdown on high street shops using illegal workers, with bosses facing up to five years in prison.Summary
The Home Office has launched a £1.5 million-backed crackdown on high street shops that use illegal workers, with a focus on businesses like barber shops, mini marts, and vape shops that serve as fronts for criminal activity. The initiative, which will initially target specific towns, involves immigration officers conducting in-person visits to educate businesses on the consequences of illegal working. Bosses who fail to comply face severe penalties, including fines of up to £60,000 per worker, closure notices, and potential prison sentences of up to five years. The government argues that illegal working is not a victimless crime, as it fuels illegal migration, supports organised crime, and undermines honest businesses by undercutting wages. The crackdown also includes measures to strip asylum seekers of their payments and accommodation if they are found working illegally, alongside increased Immigration Enforcement activity.
(Source：Mirror)
