IMMIGRATION officers have arrested a 26-year-old Indian man who was working illegally at a Cinderford engineering firm.

Home Office immigration enforcement officers, acting on intelligence, visited Partington Engineering Ltd, Hollyhill Road, Cinderford on 24 August and arrested the 26-year-old who had overstayed his student visa.

The man is being detained by the Home Office while steps are taken to remove him from the UK. The business, which specialises in manufacturing cash and carry trolleys, will be served with a notice warning that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 for employing the illegal worker could be liable.

The fine will be imposed unless they 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.

Jonathan Watson, of the South West Immigration Enforcement team, said: “We are working hard to tackle illegal working and those who abuse the UK’s immigration system.

“Using illegal labour is not a victimless crime.

“It defrauds the treasury, depriving vital public services like schools and hospitals of funds, it undercuts honest businesses and it cheats legitimate job seekers of employment opportunities.”

Partington Engineering were unable to comment.