Chicken factory workers arrested

Immigration officers have arrested 27 people working at a chicken processing factory in Lancashire.

A total of 26 men and one woman, aged between 18 and 45, were held on suspicion of offences including illegal entry into the UK.

The UK Border Agency said those arrested account for almost half of the workforce at Gaffor Poultry in Preston.

The workers are from countries including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Belarus, Iraq and Jordan.

Five of those arrested for being in the UK illegally were also held in relation to criminal charges relating to fraud and the ID Cards Act, the UK Border Agency said.

A total of 12 have been granted temporary release pending further inquiries and the rest are being detained by police and are in immigration detention, pending removal from the UK.

The employer has 28 days to provide the correct paperwork for the workers, or could be fined, the UK Border Agency said.

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