Agency workers arrested in immigration raid at Marriott Regents Park hotel

Eleven agency workers have been arrested in an immigration raid at the Marriott Regents Park hotel in London.

A probe on Wednesday found the group had been employed illegally as cleaners, porters, and maids, through a third-party recruitment agency.

They worked 15 hours a day but were thought to only be paid half the normal salary for the roles at the hotel under two separate subcontractors.

The agency staff were of six different nationalities, and none had the right to work in the UK.

Five of the staff were detained pending their removal from the country, while a further six were bailed and will be required to report regularly to the Home Office.

One of those arrested had been smuggled into the UK illegally.

The visit took place as part of a Home Office campaign targeting illegal working in the hospitality sector.

The government said it was arranged with support from Marriott Regents Park to ensure those suspected of working illegally at the hotel would be on site when officers arrived.

A Marriott spokesperson said: "We supported the Home Office in their investigation into two third-party agencies and their employment practices.

"The Home Office is not investigating our hotel or Marriott International. The wellbeing of all those working at our hotels is our priority as we are also trying to resolve this matter with our suppliers as a matter of urgency."

Suran Padiachie, deputy director of immigration enforcement and compliance at the Home Office, said the government was "grateful" for Marriott's cooperation on the case.

"Their support allowed my officers to swiftly identify the illegal workers and take action against their third-party employers to ensure they face appropriate sanctions," Padiachie said.

"Illegal working exploits vulnerable people and damages the economy, which is why we're using the full weight of the law to clamp down on rogue employers and remove those with no right to be in the UK."

The agency which employed the staff working at the Regents Park hotel has been handed a civil penalty referral notice, which could result in a fine of up to £20,000 for each illegal worker.

Fines for employers who allow illegal migrants to work for them will be tripled at the start of 2024 as part of a government crackdown.

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