THE Home Office has confirmed that four men were arrested for immigration offences after a car wash in Andover was searched. 

As previously reported, Hampshire Constabulary officers, along with Immigration, Southern Water, The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority and the DWP, visited Magic Hand Car Wash, in Hanson Road, on Wednesday, October 4.

The visit was made following concerns raised about employee welfare.

The Home Office has now told the Advertiser that four men were arrested for immigration offences. 

READ MORE: Immigration arrests made after Andover car wash searched

A Civil Penalty Referral Notice was also issued to the employer, which carries a potential fine of up to £20,000 per worker who is employed without permission to do so.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Illegal working causes untold harm to our communities, cheating honest workers out of employment, putting vulnerable people at risk, and defrauding the public purse.

“Illegal working visits are up by more than 50 per cent on last year and arrests have more than doubled, with more people arrested in 2023 than during the whole of 2022 as a result of this activity. We are also removing those with no right to be in the UK.”   

A post on the Test Valley Cops Facebook page said: “You may have seen that some of our officers were at the Magic Hand Car Wash, Hanson Road in Andover, this morning.

SEE ALSO: Woman banned from 18 pubs and bars in Andover after attacks

“Officers from the Priority Crime Team, Neighbourhood Enforcement Team, District Policing Team, and local Neighbourhood Policing Teams, attended the site following concerns being raised to us around employee welfare.

“Officers were there to assist our partners in Immigration, Southern Water, The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, and DWP.

“As a result, we have taken positive action to safeguard those individuals and our investigation is ongoing.

“Our colleagues in Immigration made arrests and issued a Civil Penalty Referral Notice to the employer, which carries a potential fine of up to £20k per worker who is employed without permission to do so.

“This is all part of our diverse work to protect our communities and keep vulnerable people safe."