Illegal immigrants have been arrested and detained after immigration enforcement officers visited a Chinese restaurant in Battersea.

China Boulevard in Smuggler's Way, Battersea, received a visit from officers at 12.35pm yesterday (March 16) and staff were questioned about their right to live and work in the UK.

Two men, aged 31 and 42, were arrested as well as two women, one 45 and the other of a currently unknown age.

A third man, also 31-years-old, who was found to have entered the country illegally, was not arrested but escorted from the premises.

No-one was available to comment today when the Wandsworth Guardian called.

The restaurant was named and shamed by the Wandsworth Guardian last month as it had received a zero rating for food hygiene by the Food Standards Agency. 

February 26: IN PICTURES: Wandsworth's least hygienic places to eat

The two men arrested have been detained pending removal from the UK.

The two women have been ordered to report to Immigration Enforcement regularly while steps are taken to remove them from the UK.

The restaurant was served a warning notice that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker will be imposed unless it can prove that right to work document checks were carried out. 

Graham Blackwood, head of the South London Immigration Enforcement team, said: "Businesses in south London which employ illegal workers should be under no illusions, our officers carry out regular operations and anyone trying to cheat the rules will be caught.

"Illegal working is not victimless and can involve the exploitation of some of society’s most vulnerable people.

"It also defrauds the treasury of vital funds, undercuts businesses that provide an honest trade and cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities.

"We rely on information from the public and I would urge people to report suspected immigration abuse to us."