9:30am Monday 6th September 2010
By Ian Mason
Twelve suspected illegal immigrants working for Gordon Ramsay have been detained following a UK Border Agency investigation.
Fifteen people were initially arrested when officers quizzed some of the celebrity chef’s employees at the now-closed GR Logistics kitchen, in Wandsworth.
The suspects, men aged between 20 and 40, are believed to be from Algeria, Congo, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Togo, Gambia and Burkina Faso. They were understood to have been targeted by officials after a tip-off, which led to their arrest at about 9am on Wednesday.
Sharon Flannery, who runs operations in London for the UK Border Agency, said: “Companies which fail to carry out adequate checks on their staff can face a fine of up to £10,000 per illegal worker found on their premises.”
A spokeswoman for Gordon Ramsay Holdings Ltd said: “We have strict recruitment procedures and never knowingly employ anyone without the correct documentation.
“However, we understand that a small number of employees may have submitted forged documents and we will continue to work closely with the UK Border Agency to assist their investigation.”
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