A WHITCHURCH employer was fined £15,000 last week after a Home Office-led raid on a nail bar in the High Street.

Officials from the Home Office joined with officers from West Mercia Police to raid Orchard Nails, in Whitchurch High Street, on Thursday, April 11.

According to a Home Office spokesman, one man and one woman were arrested for working in the United Kingdom illegally while the employer was fined £15,000 for employing them without the correct paperwork.

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A Home Office spokesman explained the background of the incident that saw officers flood Whitchurch High Street last week and added that it will continue to support businesses in the country.

They said: “On Thursday, April 11 2024, Immigration Enforcement conducted a visit to Orchid Nails in Whitchurch, north Shropshire.

“One male and one female were arrested and dealt with in line with the immigration rules.

“A civil penalty of £15,000 was issued to the employer who was found to employing individuals with no right to be in the UK.

“We are committed to working closely with businesses to ensure they comply fully with right to work checks and have submitted conditions to help strengthen this process.”

The Home Office said that the raid is part of its commitment to removing illegal workers from the UK and said they have continued to double arrests in the last 12 months.

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They added: “Illegal working causes untold harm to our communities, cheating honest workers out of employment, putting vulnerable people at risk, and defrauding the public purse.

“Illegal working visits are up by more than 68 per cent on last year and arrests have more than doubled, with more people arrested in 2023 than during the whole of 2022 because of this activity.

“We are also removing those with no right to be in the UK.”