Political heat on British curry

Jane Downs
The Politics Show
North East and Cumbria

The Government's new immigration rules are blamed for a shortage in curry chefs.

Do new Government immigration rules spell the end of the local curry house? Jane Downs finds out in South Shields.

The North East and Cumbria is home to many renowned curry houses.

Fans of Indian food are spoiled for choice - there is even the option of boarding a unique "curry train" in Carlisle or Newcastle to convey you to a korma.

Nationally, curry sales in the UK are estimated at around £3.5bn and the industry brings visitors, cash and employment to areas like South Shields, known for its "curry strip".

In recent months, Indian restaurant owners in the North East and Cumbria have claimed they are struggling to keep afloat while facing higher and higher running costs.

But soaring rice and petrol prices are not their only problems.

Raids on curry houses

Shah Amin runs the Spice 1 restaurant in South Shields.

In November 2007, his premises were raided by the Border and Immigration Agency.

"There were four tables of customers present when I walked in, all looking at me, but no sign of my staff - they'd been taken into a back room to be questioned," he recalls.

Putting on the political heat to help curry houses?

"Some customers walked out because they felt uncomfortable and they haven't been back since, so I've lost money..."

Mr Amin has now written to South Shields MP and Foreign Secretary, David Miliband - a customer himself - raising his concerns.

The raid on Mr Amin's restaurant was part of a high profile campaign by the Border and Immigration Agency in the North East over the last year, as they investigate reports of staff working illegally.

They deny being heavy handed and say their stepped-up enforcement is delivering results in the battle against illegal immigrants.

Immigration rule changes

This year, the government are phasing in their new five-tier immigration system.

It is similar to the Australian model; applicants must score "points" by having qualifications, demonstrating their earning potential and speaking good English.

Under the points system, unskilled workers from outside the EU would find it a big challenge to gain entry into the UK.

Owners caught flouting the rules face a £10,000 fine and up to two years in prison.

The changes mean it is now almost impossible to bring staff over from Bangladesh as many restaurants have traditionally done.

So could they find the staff locally?

Shah Amin believes it is not an attractive option.

"Young people now don't want to work in a restaurant. They want to be lawyers or doctors, plus there's nowhere for them to train for this kind of work," he says.

Relaxing the rules?

Some MPs - including Blyth's Ronnie Campbell - are now calling for the new immigration restrictions to be relaxed for people employed by the curry industry, in recognition of the contribution it makes to the UK economy.

But not everyone believes recruiting staff abroad is essential anyway.

Ronnie Campbell MP - calling for immigration restrictions to be relaxed

Khamal Hussein runs the Momotaj on Ocean Road. He welcomes the new get-tough policy.

"The Immigration Agency have a job to do - and there shouldn't be people here working illegally, so I don't mind them doing it.

"You can't really do a 'nice, polite' raid, anyway, can you?

"I don't think it's a problem to recruit locally, people are just going to have to pay more for staff. It'll mean only the best restaurants survive."

Can the great British curry take the heat?

Find out on the Politics Show this Sunday on BBC 1 from 12 noon.

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