Eight illegal workers have been found at two businesses in Newton Abbot after raids by the UK Border Agency.

The enforcement operations on Tuesday evening were part of planned nationwide action.

Acting on information, officers went to Saffron restaurant, Queen Street. As they entered two men fled and tried to hide in accommodation upstairs.

It was found that six men, all from Bangladesh, were working at the restaurant illegally.

Three are suspected to have entered the UK illegally and two had stayed in the country after their visas expired.

The sixth man was in the UK legally but was working in breach of his visa conditions.

All six were taken to Torquay police station where they remain in detention pending possible deportation.

A civil penalty notice was handed to the business. If the employers are unable to prove that the correct pre-employment checks were carried out on the men, they face a fine of up to £10,000 per illegal worker.

Officers also raided Hoi Shan, in Queen Street.

A 34-year-old Chinese woman and 44-year-old Chinese man were found working illegally, both failed asylum seekers.

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