IMMIGRATION enforcement action carried out in a Furness town saw two men arrested for overstaying their visas.

Acting on intelligence, immigration officers visited Dalton Spice, on Market Street, Dalton, last Thursday (February 15).

Two Bangladeshi men, aged 38 and 25, who had overstayed their visas, were found to be working illegally and arrested, said the Home Office. Both are now in immigration detention while arrangements are made to remove them from the UK.

A Home Office spokesman said officers identified that the owners of Dalton Spice also operate two other businesses – Naaz in Queen Street, Ulverston, and the Taste of India in Duke Street, Askam-in-Furness – which are the subject of an Illegal Working Compliance Order issued by Manchester Magistrates’ Court last July following arrests during previous operations.

Because of this history of non-compliance, officers used powers under the Immigration Act 2016 to close Dalton Spice.

The business was closed for 48 hours under the immigration act, but was then allowed to reopen.

On Monday (February 19) Manchester Magistrates’ Court granted an illegal working compliance order, meaning the premises will be monitored for the next 12 months.

Measures open to the court as part of a compliance order can include requirements that the business owner must check employees have the right to work, must permit entry by immigration officers to inspect for compliance, and must inform immigration enforcement in writing before opening any other business.

Dalton Spice has been served a notice warning that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 will be imposed unless it can demonstrate that appropriate right to work document checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document confirming permission to work.