TWO men have been arrested in Lye as part of a joint police and UK Border Agency crackdown on illegal immigrants.

The men were arrested on Tuesday under the Immigration Act at take-away and fast food establishments in the town.

One was arrested at Piri Piri take-away in Lye High Street for illegally over-staying his time in the country.

The second was arrested in Nisa take-away shop in Lower High Street, Lye, and he was sent back to France under the Immigration Act.

The arrests took place after intelligence relating to illegal immigrants and workers in the area was shared between Lye’s Next Steps policing team and the UK Border Agency.

Pc James Bird, from Lye’s Next Steps team which focuses on local crime and anti-social behaviour issues, said: “This crackdown is just the start of a number of joint operations with the UK Border Agency across Stourbridge and Lye.

“We will continue to target individuals who over-stay in the country, work without a UK visa and those people who are living in this country illegally.

“Fines will be issued for up to £10,000 for businesses employing workers who do not have the correct paperwork or work privileges within the UK.”