A company in Hayes is facing a potential fine of up to £170,000, after 17 illegal workers were arrested during a UK Border Agency raid.

The premises of Only 4U Ltd on Bullsbrook Road, Hayes, were raided by the UK Border Agency on Thursday 10 December 2009.

There is an ongoing operation to clampdown on illegal working in the west London area. It coincides with an advertising campaign warning bosses of heavy fines if they are caught employing illegal foreign labour.

Quite a few such raids have taken place in Southall this year.

A total of 17 Indians and Sri Lankans men were arrested for immigration offences. Ten were failed asylum seekers. The UK Border Agency will now seek to remove all of them from the country.

If the employer cannot prove that they carried out the correct right-to-work checks on the illegal workers, they face a fine.

Penalties for businesses that do not to carry out the proper checks when employing migrant workers from outside Europe were introduced in February 2008, allowing fines of up to £10,000 per illegal employee.

Employers who are not sure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers or call the Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be assured.