#Boycottbyron Trends On Twitter After Immigration Raid Leads To Arrests At Burger Chain
A Twitter user has urged people to boycott the Burger chain, Byron, after an immigration raid led to the arrest of dozens of their workers, according to a BBC report.
The story prompted the hashtag #boycottbyron to trend on Twitter, where there was both criticism and support for the company.
Twitter user @abbiewastaken wrote: “Luring your own staff who’s labour you’ve benefited from for 4+ years into a room filled with cops is next level SNAKE. #BoycottByron”.
In contrast, @alrightlandlord said: “The people were here illegally, so no, I won’t #boycottbyron ,,, In fact, I may pay them regular visits for doing what is right.”
The Home Office said 35 people from Albania, Brazil, Nepal and Egypt were arrested for suspected immigration offences at restaurants across London.
It added that the operation on 4 July had been carried out with Byron’s “full co-operation”.
Byron had carried out correct “right to work” staff checks, but had been shown papers suspected to be false, it said.
The burger chain said the Home Office recognised that as an employer Byron was “fully compliant with immigration and asylum law in its employment practices”.
As a result, the chain would not face civil penalty action, the Home Office confirmed.
Byron said immigration officials removed members of staff suspected of “not having the right to work in the UK, and of possessing fraudulent personal and right to work documentation that is in breach of immigration and employment regulation”.
“We have co-operated fully and acted upon the Home Office’s requests throughout the course of the investigations leading to this action, and will continue to do so,” it added.
A spokesman for the Home Office dismissed reports that an event had been set up to lure workers to a location where they would be arrested.