Monday, March 12, 2012

Curry house opened by Home Secretary Theresa May raided by her own ­immigration officers

A curry house opened by Home Secretary Theresa May has been raided by her own immigration officers. Five suspected illegal ­immigrants from Bangladesh were detained at the restaurant by the UK Borders Agency. Embarrassingly, it is the ­second time a restaurant ­frequented by the curry-loving minister has been targeted for suspected illegal workers.

Mrs May, whose department is in charge of immigration, is pictured on the website of the Innovation in her Maidenhead, Berkshire, ­constituency cutting a ribbon for the official ­opening. She is also photographed ­receiving a bunch of flowers and eating a meal with the owners. She said at last May’s opening: “It’s very good to see this new business opening up here in Maidenhead.



“I know a lot of people will have very good times here to enjoy the food and the ­conviviality.” Officers from the Borders Agency raided the ­Innovation a week ago and found three suspected illegal ­immigrants. Two are believed to have over-stayed their visas and ­another is thought to be a failed asylum seeker. The officers also found two further visa over-stayers in the flat above the curry house. There is no ­suggestion the owners were aware that the men involved were in Britain illegally.

But the three-storey restaurant faces a fine of up to £50,000 if it was ­employing the men, unless it can prove that all of the correct checks were carried out. Eighteen months ago her ­favourite tandoori restaurant Malik’s in Cookham, near ­Maidenhead – where she signed the guestbook and was also pictured on their website – was raided and two suspected illegal workers caught. But the owner was not aware of their status. A source said: “This is a massive ­embarrassment for the Home Secretary and is a mistake she won’t want to repeat a third time.”

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