'Illegal' workers arrested in Frankie Dettori and Marco Pierre White restaurants

Seven men suspected of working illegally at a chain of Italian restaurants run by Marco Pierre White and Frankie Dettori have been arrested in London.

Immigration officials raided the flagship branch of Frankie's in Knightsbridge after a tip-off.

They arrested and questioned an Albanian man and two Ecuadorian men who now face deportation.

A second raid, at Frankie's Braganza in Chiswick led to the arrest of three Brazilian men and an Algerian.

Bosses at the restaurant chain must prove they carried out legal checks or they could face a fine of up to £10,000 for every illegal worker.

Sharon Flannery, of UK Border Agency, said the men were suspected of using counterfeit documents to gain employment.

She said: "These kinds of operations are being done every day by the UK Border Agency to combat immigration crime in London. More are planned in the coming weeks.

"Where we find people who are in the UK illegally we will seek to remove them.

"Illegal working has a serious impact on communities, taking jobs from those who are genuinely allowed to work."

Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "These operations are among many being carried out across the country following the success of a major crackdown on immigration crime during the summer, which generated a large number of arrests, cash seizures and prosecutions as well as fresh intelligence.

"Illegal immigration puts huge pressure on the public purse at a time when the country can least afford it.

"Together with the police and the Serious Organised Crime Agency we will continue to make life as difficult as possible for those who cheat the immigration system."

The first raid, in Yeoman's Row, Knightsbridge, took place on November 25, the second, in Chiswick High Road, took place last Friday.

The family-focused Frankie's chain has branches in Stamford Bridge, Dubai and Dublin. No-one was available to comment at the restaurant.