Acting on intelligence, Home Office immigration enforcement officers visited Pak’s Hair and Cosmetics in Ridley Road just before midday, to question some of the staff whether they had the right to be in the UK.

A Dalston hair and beauty store is facing a potential £50,000 fine after five illegal workers were arrested there yesterday.

Three Pakistani nationals aged 20, 31 and 37 were found to have overstayed their visas while a 30-year-old Indian and 27-year-old Pakistani were found to be working in breach of their visa conditions.

Officers then arrested a 28-year-old Pakistani man who had also overstayed his visa at a nearby home in Ridley Road who was not an employee.

All those arrested apart from the 31-year-old are now in immigration detention pending removal from the UK, while the 31-year-old has been placed on immigration bail while steps are taken to remove him.

The business was served a notice warning the employers that a civil penalty of up to £10,000 per illegal worker found will be imposed, unless proof is provided that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out.

Vikki Lacey, from the Home Office Immigration Enforcement team in North and Central London, warned teams are carrying out similar visits every day in the capital.

“Illegal working has a serious impact on communities, undermining legitimate businesses and taking jobs from those who are genuinely allowed to work,” she said.

“While we are happy to work with businesses to let them know what checks need to be done on staff, those who do break the law should know that we are out there looking for them and they will face heavy fines.”