Eight workers held after immigration chiefs raid Alperton scaffolding company

Firm could now face a fine of up to �80,000

An Alperton scaffolding firm could be fined up to �80,000 after eight of its workers were arrested during a raid by immigration chiefs.

The employees, who are all Indian nationals, were held after officers from the UK Border Agency stormed Desi Scaffolding which is based in the Northfield Industrial Estate in Beresford Avenue.

Out of the nine workers at the site, four were arrested for entering the UK illegally and four were held for being in the country illegally having overstayed their visas.

Seven of the eight are now in detention and awaiting their removal from the UK, while the eighth was granted immigration bail while the UK Border Agency processes his case.

Desi Scaffolding could now face a fine of up to �10,000 per illegal worker, unless it can proof to the UK Border Agency that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out.

Alex Legg, chief immigration officer who led the operation on Monday morning, said: “Those who fail to carry out the legally required checks on staff and choose to break the law should know that we are out there looking for them and they will face heavy fines.”