IMMIGRATION enforcement officers have arrested 15 people working on a solar farm near Frampton Cotterell.
The Home Office said the building workers were arrested at Goldbeck Solar Farm off Perrinpit Road, between Frampton Cotterell and Iron Acton on August 28, “following intelligence they were employed illegally”.
An investigation into who was responsible for taking on the illegal workers is now underway, with the employer potentially facing a fine of up to £900,000.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Those arrested at the solar farm were of Kazakhstani, Turkish, Georgian, Uzbekistani, Kyrgyz and Tajikistani nationalities.
“Of the individuals encountered, 13 of them entered the UK on Temporary Seasonal Worker visas. All 13 submitted asylum claims prior to their visas expiring. Of these, ten claims remain outstanding and three claims have been refused.
“One individual entered the UK on a Standard Visitor visa and claimed asylum. The asylum claim is still outstanding.
“Another individual entered the UK on a Turkish ECAA business visa and was arrested for working in breach in his conditions.
“As a result, four have been detained pending their removal from the UK, with the remaining 11 placed on immigration bail with strict reporting conditions.”
The raid was carried out with support from Avon & Somerset police, and the Home Office said it was part of a “zero-tolerance approach to immigration crime”, which has seen arrests rise by 50% over the past 14 months.
The spokesperson added: “Further inquiries to establish any liability and the liable employer will now take place.
“The liable employer could face a substantial fine if found to have employed illegal workers and failed to conduct relevant pre-employment checks, including a fine of up to £45,000 per illegal worker for a first breach and up to a maximum of £60,000 for repeat offending.”
Chief Immigration Officer Aimee Averne, said: “I’d like to thank my officers and our partners at Avon and Somerset Police for their support on this operation, which has successfully led to the arrests of illegal workers.
“My teams will continue to enforce the law, protect legitimate businesses and disrupt the networks that exploit vulnerable individuals.”
Picture: Immigration enforcement officers at the solar farm. Faces blurred by Home Office, which has supplied the image