TALE of Spice Indian restaurants in Chippenham and Trowbridge were raided by Home Office officials on Thursday.

Immigration enforcement officers struck shortly before 6pm, before diners had arrived at the Malmesbury Road restaurant in Chippenham, which remains open for business as usual.

Seven Bangladeshi men, aged 20, 24, 25, 26, 30, 30 and 39, were arrested on suspicion of having no permission to work in the UK.

Mohammed Rokebul Islam, 39, of no fixed abode, was charged with two counts of possessing identity documents with improper intent and one count of attempting to obtain leave to remain in the UK by deception.

Swindon Magistrates on Friday remanded him in custody until May 15, when he is due to appear at Swindon Crown Court.

The other men have been ordered to report to the Home Office regularly while their cases are progressed.

A different Mohammed Islam, manager of the Chippenham restaurant, said: “It is my understanding when we employed people we definitely checked their papers. They arrest everyone and then after they check their papers.

“They have released six men and only one remains in their custody.

“We are awaiting a letter from the Home Office.”

The Tale of Spice's Trowbridge restaurant in Castle Street was targeted by immigration officers at the same time. The Home Office said four Bangladeshi men there, aged 23, 27, 28 and 29, were arrested after being found to be working in breach of their visa conditions, and were transferred to immigration detention pending removal from the UK.

The businesses were served with notices warning that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found would be imposed, unless the employer can demonstrate appropriate right to work document checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document.

Tale of Spice faces paying a potential £220,000 unless it provides proof.

Last June the chain was issued with civil penalties totalling £20,000 after raids on their Chippenham and Trowbridge restaurants in April.

A spokesman for the Home Office said: "The debt remains outstanding and the case is now with our third party debt recovery specialists for further action."