Checks and arrests as agencies sweep city’s bars and clubs

A sweep of pubs, bars and clubs in Leeds by the council, police and immigration officials has been hailed a success after it led to arrests and checks on door staff.

Officials from Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Police and the UK Border Agency visited 13 premises and checked 26 door staff in the city during the operation at the weekend.

At one of the venues, two illegal immigrants were arrested – one working as a glass collector, the other as a toilet attendant. It is the first time the Border Agency has been involved in this initiative.

A number of issues with door staff were also found, including:
• One female door staff member was not covered by her Security Industry Authority (SIA) badge to work on the front line
• One male door staff was found in possession of an expired SIA badge and was sent home
• Four of the premises were found to be employing door staff 'in-house' and not through a company. Further enquiries will now have to be made to ascertain who out of the venue management holds a 'non-frontline' licence which would allow them to deploy their own door staff.

Licensing officials from the council and police officers carry out joint visits twice a month to check licensed premises. These joint operations allows them to work more closely, using each other’s intelligence to identify offences and gather intelligence.

All door staff have to be licensed by the Security Industry Authority, which means they have been checked through the Criminals Records Bureau and have undertaken an accredited training course.

Councillor Richard Brett, Leeds City Council’s executive board member for licensing, said:
“I’m pleased that this sweep has worked well – working together with the police and immigration means we can be much more effective, and it is definitely something we will do again.
“By visiting together it also means the burden on businesses is greatly reduced and people can continue to use the city’s bars and pubs knowing that they are safe, and that those employed to keep them that way are properly trained and checked.”

Vernon Francis, the new Chief Inspector responsible for Leeds City Centre, said:
"We take issues regarding door staff very seriously because they play a big part in helping to keep the city centre safe and in reassuring visitors to pubs and clubs that they are safe places to be.
"The majority of licensees within the city also take these responsibilities very seriously, which is great to see, but it's important that we continue these visits in the run-up to the festive period to ensure that our pubs and clubs remain safe at the busiest time of the year."

Jeremy Oppenheim, Regional Director for the UK Border Agency in the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, praised the cooperation:
“The UK Border Agency takes part in a number of multi-agency operations across the region, in addition to around 70 operations each month to tackle illegal working. This successful operation demonstrates the value of working alongside other enforcement bodies to combat those that would seek to violate our laws – be they immigration, criminal or public order offences.
“The two foreign nationals arrested, a Nigerian failed asylum seeker and a Jamaican who overstayed her visa, were found working illegally at The Space Club, 10-20 Duncan Street, Leeds. They have been released on immigration bail whilst furthering investigations are made with a view to possibly removing them from the UK.
“The employer has been served with a civil penalty notice for employing illegal workers and faces a potential fine of up to £10,000. Let this be an important reminder to those employers who employ illegal workers – we will not tolerate illegal working. It is a crime that not only undercuts local business but also has a serious impact on communities, taking jobs from those who are genuinely allowed to work.”

Notes to editors
1. The UK Border Agency was launched last year, 3 April 2008 by the Home Office, establishing a single force to protect our borders, control migration for the benefit of the country, prevent border tax fraud, smuggling and immigration crime and make quick and fair decisions on asylum claims.
2. Employers served with a Notice of Potential Liability (NOPL) in relation to illegal workers will have 28 days to provide the UK Border Agency with evidence that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out or face a fine of up to £10,000. Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers/ or they can call the UK Border Agency Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.

ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact:
Michael Molcher, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 224 3937
Email: michael.molcher@leeds.gov.uk