Operation is carried out a day after a similar exercise in Kensal Green

Brent & Kilburn Times: Immigration officers carried out an operation at Kensal Green station this morning (pic credit: Phil O'Shea)Immigration officers carried out an operation at Kensal Green station this morning (pic credit: Phil O'Shea) (Image: Archant)

Three men have been arrested after a second operation targeting illegal immigrants in the borough was carried out today.

Brent & Kilburn Times: A van like this was driven through BrentA van like this was driven through Brent (Image: Archant)

Officers from the UK Borders Agency and Brent’s Safer Neighbourhoods Team swooped on the men as they waited to be picked up for casual work in Chichele Road, Cricklewood.

A total of 60 people were stopped and checked resulting in three being arrested for immigration offences and a wanted man being held for grievous bodily harm.

Officers also issued written notices to 27 men ordering them to surrender at Eaton House immigration centre for further investigation

Residents and traders have complained about the groups carrying out anti-social behaviour such as loitering, noise pollution, intimidating women with inappropriate comments and littering.

Sergeant Rob Gibbs from Brondesbury Park and Mapesbury Safer Neighbourhoods Team said: “The operation is part of a long-term policing plan to eradicate crime and anti-social behaviour in the Cricklewood area.

“Brent Police will not tolerate crime and anti-social behaviour in the area and will continue intensive activity working with partners to sustain reductions.”

The crackdown comes a day after a similar exercise took place at Kensal Green train station.

Witnesses claim the operation was heavy-handed and officers were behaving in an intimidating manner.

Kensal Rise resident Phil O’Shea told the Times he was threatened with arrest when he asked what was going on.

He added: “They appeared to be stopping and questioning every non-white person, many of whom were clearly ordinary Kensal Green residents going to work.”

Two women and a man were arrested in connection with immigration matters at the station.

Last week, billboards warning illegal immigrants to ‘go home or face arrest’ were driven through Brent and five other boroughs in London as part of a Home Office campaign.

However today it was revealed that Lord Lipsey, a Labour peer, had reported the campaign to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

The former member of the ASA’s council, objected to a claim in the ads that there had been “106 arrests last week in your area”, which he said was “grossly misleading”.