News Joint op finds three illegal workers in Maidstone

A joint operation last week carried out by Maidstone Borough Council (MBC), Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service and Home Office Immigration found three people living illegally in the UK.

Following initial enquiries in December 2021 there was evidence that a car wash on Upper Stone Street, Maidstone was in breach of Planning as the owners were allowing staff to live on site.

After receiving further intelligence around suspected illegal activity, the MBC Community Protection Team began investigating and carried out a targeted operation in conjunction with Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service and Home Office Immigration. Using translation services a raid was carried out in Maidstone on Thursday 7 July where they discovered three people who were living illegally in the UK, these individuals have been detained.

Cllr Lottie Parfitt-Reid, Lead Member for Communities and Public Engagement said:

“This is a fantastic example of the joint work taking place with our Community Protection Team and Kent Police, sharing information and then carrying out a joint operation.”

One of the MBC priorities is Safe Clean and Green which helps ensure Maidstone is a safe place to live and to make our residents feel safe.

Lottie continued:

“This type of operation demonstrates how working together means we get the results delivering on our priority of making people safe and feel safe and with the new Maidstone Town Centre Task Force we can really achieve that.”

To contact the MBC Community Protection Team please email: communityprotection@maidstone.gov.uk

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