Multi-sector recruiter Prime Time Recruitment has “strongly refuted” any claims it has employed illegal workers following a swoop on a London factory by immigration officers recently.

This weekend, The Mail on Sunday reported immigration officers launched a dawn raid at a sandwich-making factory in Bromley-by-Bow run by Prime Time’s client Greencore as part of a major Home Office crackdown on the employment of illegal migrants.

The Home Office confirmed in a statement that immigration officers acting on intelligence visited the factory on 29 July, arresting 32 individuals on suspicion of carrying out immigration offences. Ten of those were arrested on criminal charges, with nine charged and remanded in custody, and one bailed pending further enquiries. The remaining 22 are being dealt with by immigration officers and processed for removal from the UK if appropriate.

Two referral notices, previously known as notices of potential liability, were served – one to Greencore and one to Prime Time. Both organisations could face fines of up to £20k per worker if it is found that they failed to check the workers’ documents properly.

In a statement sent to Recruiter, Prime Time Recruitment said it “strongly refutes” any claims it has employed illegal workers at the Greencore Bow factory, adding none of the workers arrested were Prime Time registered candidates.

“Prime Time is strictly and routinely audited to ensure all legal procedures are adhered to at all times and maintains a 100% compliance record,” the statement goes on. “Prime Time supply 400 workers a week to Greencore Bow and undertakes rigorous checks on all candidates to guarantee their eligibility to work in the UK with up to 30% of applicants turned away by Prime Time each week for failing to supply paperwork that complies with the Right to Work legislation.”

Greencore said in a statement also sent to Recruiter, it is working closely with the immigration service and the police, and it has been established that the individuals concerned used high quality false documentation to illegally obtain employment in the UK.

“Having conducted a thorough review of our recruitment processes, we are satisfied that Greencore closely follows the Home Office’s guidelines and goes to great lengths to try to ensure that all of our employees fulfil the necessary criteria to work legally in the UK,” the statement adds. 

Greencore added it had, on numerous occasions, spotted suspicious applications and notified immigration service immediately. Further, the company remains determined to keep pace with the increasingly high quality of false documentation being produced, adding it will do everything it can to ensure that this kind of incident does not reoccur in the future.

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