Chinese Community: Greater London

Mr. Dismore
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were detained as alleged illegal migrants as a result of the Border and Immigration Agency raid in Chinatown on 11 October; how many of those people were released, as legal workers; what the longest period was a detainee was held; how many (a) remain in detention, (b) await removal and (c) have been removed; which countries and regions the people detained were from, broken down by country or region; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Byrne
49 subjects were initially detained on suspicion of being immigration offenders, comprising 36 Chinese, 11 Malaysian, one Vietnamese and one Hong Kong. Four were released on the same day as they were found to be working legally and 10 Malaysian nationals have been removed. The remaining subjects are in detention awaiting removal.

Mr. Dismore
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) Border and Immigration Agency staff and (b) police officers were involved in the Chinatown raid on 11 October; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Byrne
58 Border and Immigration Agency staff and approximately 50 police officers attended the operation.

Mr. Dismore
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what documents restaurateurs involved in the raids by the Border and Immigration Agency on 11 October were asked to sign; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Byrne
Restaurateurs were asked to sign the ‘notification of potential liability’ section in the section 8 Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 Illegal Working Visit Record Book.

Mr. Dismore
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make a statement on the meeting attended by Border and Immigration Agency officials in Chinatown on 18 October.

Mr. Byrne
Border and Immigration Agency staff attended an open meeting at the Chinese Community Centre on 18 October to listen to the concerns of the community and explain the process and objectives of the operation. As a result of this meeting a series of workshops with local employers will be held.

Mr. Dismore
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received on the protest in London's Chinatown which involved closure of several restaurants on 18 October; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Byrne
It was recognised that the operation could result in some community tension as the Border and Immigration Agency had not conducted visits in Chinatown for some time. The London and south-east regional community cohesion team had already engaged with the London Chinese community centre on more general agency matters, and this team revisited the community after the operation to address its concerns. We have also liaised with the Metropolitan police Chinatown community team and agreed a community impact plan.

Mr. Dismore
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what stage those detained on 11 October during the raid in London's Chinatown by the Border and Immigration Agency were afforded access to legal advice; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Byrne
Those detained at police stations had access to the duty solicitor, if desired, following the booking-in process. It is part of police process to inform prisoners of their right to legal advice. Those held in Border and Immigration Agency accommodation had access to public telephones to contact a representative of their choice.

Mr. Dismore
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will meet the London Chinatown Chinese Association to discuss immigration issues.

Mr. Byrne
Officials are already in contact with the London Chinatown Chinese Association and we are working with them to address a range of immigration issues including provision of workshops for local employers on the legal requirements surrounding the employment of migrant workers.

Mr. Dismore
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long those detained following the raids in London's Chinatown on 11 October were held before they were given (a) food and (b) drink; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Byrne
Prisoners at police stations were held in accordance with PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act) Codes of Practice and were offered refreshments in line with this act. Detainees in Border and Immigration Agency accommodation were provided with food and drinks within three hours of their arrival.