Two North Yorkshire pizza takeaways are facing combined fines of up to £30,000 after a series of illegal working visits by our officers.

A man was arrested during the intelligence led operation which took place in Thirsk and Ripon on the evening of Thursday 1 July, as part of a UK wide crackdown on suspected illegal working.

Our officers visited Tele Pizza in Market Place, Thirsk and Zorro Pizza in Kirkgate, Ripon where they checked employees’ documents to establish if they were entitled to work in the UK. In Tele Pizza they found a 19-year-old Palestinian man, who was a failed asylum seeker and did not have permission to work. He was dismissed from employment. Also working in the takeaway was a 29-year-old Egyptian man who had entered the country illegally. He was arrested and steps are now being taken to remove him from the country.

In Zorro Pizza, officers found a 31-year-old Egyptian man working behind the counter. Checks revealed that he had overstayed his visa and did not have the right to work in the UK. He was dismissed from employment. An application for further leave to remain that he has submitted is being considered.

Both businesses were served with a civil penalty notice for employing illegal workers. If the employers are unable to provide evidence that legally-required checks were carried out before recruiting the staff then a fine of up to £10,000 for each offender will be imposed.

Steve Lamb, regional operations director, UK Border Agency, North East, Yorkshire and the Humber said:

‘We will continue to come down hard on employers who seek to use illegal workers, wherever they are in the region. There are strict rules about which foreign nationals a business can employ, and simple checks must be carried out to establish a person’s right to work in the UK.