by Our News Desk

PLANS to throw illegal immigrants in jail for six months if they are caught working in Britain were yesterday condemned as using “a sledgehammer to crack a nut.”

In the latest government bid to curb immigration, people who are in the country illegally face a prison term or an unlimited fine if caught working.

Off-licences, pubs and late-night takeaways also face closure if they are caught employing those with no legal right to be in Britain.

Officials are also considering whether this power should be extended to cover minicab drivers and operators who take bookings.

The government has released details of the proposals from its as yet unpublished Immigration Bill ahead of tomorrow’s immigration figures that could see a record high.

Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said: “Anyone who thinks the UK is a soft touch should be in no doubt — if you are here illegally, we will take action to stop you from working, renting a flat, opening a bank account or driving a car.

“Illegal workers will face the prospect of a prison term and rogue employers could have their businesses closed, have their licences removed or face prosecution if they continue to flout the law.”

The  proposals come on top of an earlier announced new offence of illegal working, which allows wages to be seized as proceeds of crime.

The Migrants Rights Network condemned the plans, with director Don Flynn saying: “The power to shut down a trading operation, on the grounds that it has failed to satisfy proper immigration checks, is a sledgehammer to crack a nut approach.

“The proposal to create a criminal offence which could lead to a six-month prison sentence with an unlimited fine for anyone found working without the right papers is also a grossly disproportionate to any harm which migrants in a vulnerable position may be considered to have done.”

Labour’s shadow immigration minister David Hanson questioned why the government did not simply extend the gangmasters legislation to cover more types of business.

He said: “When these proposals finally come before Parliament, ministers need to explain how they will work in practice, how they will be enforced and why they won’t extend gangmaster legislation to tackle traffickers at source.”