Coventry businesses caught hiring illegal workers have been fined a total of £190,000. One building company alone has been ordered to pay £90,000.
The Home Office has ramped up its enforcement efforts across the West Midlands. Employers found breaking the rules not only face hefty fines but could also land up to five years in jail.
🏗️ Future Build Cov fined £90,000
Building firm Future Build Cov, based in Holbrooks, has been hit with the biggest penalty. Officials say the company employed illegal migrants between 1st July and 30th September 2024. The fine? A staggering £90,000.
🍕 Restaurants and takeaways caught in the net
Several Coventry food businesses have also been penalised:
- Emmys Pitta (Warwick Row) – £10,000 fine
- Papa John’s (Manj Express Food Ltd, Quinton Park) – £45,000 fine
- New Lavish Caters Ltd (Holbrook Lane) – £45,000 fine
📍 Illegal worker raids hit the Midlands
Coventry isn’t alone. Across the UK, businesses have been hit with eye-watering fines. One Surrey car wash, D&T Hand Car Wash, was fined an incredible £360,000. Meanwhile, Elite Garages in Sussex and Wareham Hand Car Wash in Dorset each received £180,000 fines.
In January, Home Office officials raided 131 locations across Coventry and the Midlands, arresting around 100 people. That’s a 34% increase compared to the same time last year.
👮 Home Office: “We’re stepping up enforcement”
A Home Office spokesperson made their position clear:
“Organised immigration crime is a multi-million-pound industry. It stretches from trafficking routes thousands of miles away to the high streets of Britain, where many end up working illegally.”
“We are cracking down on this at every level – increasing business visits, stepping up enforcement, and targeting both illegal workers and their employers.”
With fines stacking up and raids on the rise, it’s clear the Home Office is tightening its grip on illegal employment across the country.
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