Ealing Council joined forces with other organisations to tackle local businesses that are breaking the law and flouting regulations.

The council’s regulatory services team accompanied by officers from the Metropolitan Police, Home Office, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Gangmasters Licensing Authority and London Fire Brigade, visited specific businesses to check they were operating within the regulations.

The firms included food Importers, hotels and guest houses, hot food takeaways, shisha premises and food manufacturers. The joint operation across the borough was conducted under the Better Business Compliance Partnership.

Over five days between 17 and 25 February, a total of 17 businesses were visited resulting in the discoveries of a number of offences. Actions taken included the seizure of potentially unsafe fish smuggled in from outside the EU in a consignment of vegetables. HMRC also gathered information about possible VAT, Income Tax and National Minimum Wage irregularities.

Officers served improvement notices under food safety regulation and the Home Office made three arrests for offences, which could result in two employers getting hefty fines for having illegal workers.

Pat Hayes, the council’s executive director for regeneration and housing, said: “These partnership operations have successfully dealt with some of the unlawful practices adopted by unscrupulous business people. The council is committed to making Ealing a better place for everyone and our joint work with organisations such as the police, HMRC and the fire service is helping protect people while helping law-abiding businesses to thrive.”

The Better Business Compliance Partnership, led by the Department of Communities and Local Government, brings together the resources and intelligence of national bodies to support council teams. Its focus is on tackling persistently non-compliant businesses and reducing the burden on those that are compliant.

Sergeant Graham Edwards, Ealing Police Licensing, said: “The Metropolitan Police Service is committed to reducing all licensing-related crime within the borough. We continue to work in close partnership with the council's regulatory services and safer communities teams to pursue businesses that break the law and demonstrate a disregard for the community, placing the public at risk.”