NEIGHBOURS have told of the moment when border force teams descended on a Hampshire restaurant during an immigration raid.

Four restaurant staff were arrested when officers swooped on Jewels Restaurant in West End.

The Bangladeshi nationals were arrested for immigration offences and have been taken to a detention centre.

Today the Indian restaurant remains open with remaining staff continuing to serve customers.

Home Office teams arrived at the restaurant in Townhill Farm District Centre in Wessex Road at 6pm on Friday.

A 40-year-old man watched some of the drama unfold from the Two Brothers pub which is close to the eatery.

The man, who did not want to give his name, said: “I saw three vans parked up outside the restaurant and there were immigration officials and police.

“I saw the officers moving about in a couple of upstairs flats above the restaurant and they looked like they were looking for paperwork.

“Someone else told me that they saw four people being led away in handcuffs and then they were taken away.

“But afterwards the restaurant was still packed and they were still serving people.”

A Home Office spokeswoman said immigration enforcement officers had launched the operation after receiving intelligence.

She said: “Staff were questioned to check they had the right to live and work in the UK. As a result, four Bangladeshi nationals were arrested for immigration offences and taken into immigration detention.  “A referral notice was served on the restaurant for all four people as the employer was unable to provide evidence that the requisite pre-employment checks had been carried out.”

The Daily Echo made repeated attempts to contact the restaurant owner but they were unable to respond before the newspaper went to press.

The civil penalty for employing illegal workers increased in 2014 from £10,000 to is £20,000 for each individual who does not have the right to work in the UK.