Thread: UK: Cesspit exposes immigration scam

Cesspit exposes immigration scam




The stench from a home-made cesspit has exposed a group of 14 illegal immigrants crowded into a three-bedroom home in north-west London.

Police raided the house in Wealdstone on Tuesday after neighbours complained of a smell coming from a trench in the garden being used as a toilet.

The illegal immigrants, all men, are thought to be Chinese nationals.

Immigration officials arrested two residents who are thought to have organised the living arrangements.

Police and immigration officers found the cesspit in the back garden of the property.

'Clear danger'

Inside the house, the whole floor area was crammed with mattresses and the occupants had converted a downstairs living room into a makeshift bedroom.

Officers also found examples of dangerous wiring, including seven rice cookers running from one power point.

Harrow councillor Susan Hall said: "Illegal houses of multiple occupation present a clear danger to those living in them and a nuisance to those living nearby - in this case neighbours who were disturbed by smells."

The residents, who are believed to work in the construction industry, were collectively paying £1,000 a month in rent, the council said.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/u ... 543083.stm

'Bad smell' leads police to illegal immigrants crammed into Harrow house
Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Housing , Communities
Tuesday 5th August 2008 - 12:33pm



'Bad smell' leads police to illegal immigrants crammed into Harrow house
The stench from a home-made cesspit in a garden gave away a group of 14 illegal immigrants crowded into one three-bedroom house.

The semi-detached house in Warham Road in Wealdstone, Harrow, north west London, was raided at about 5am today by police and immigration service officers and council community safety staff.

The illegal immigrants, all men in their 20s, found living in the house are thought to be Chinese nationals.

Immigration officials arrested two residents who are thought to have organised the living arrangements.

Harrow Council plans to prosecute the property's owner for running a house of multiple occupation.

The property was investigated after neighbours complained of a bad smell.

The smell was later found to be coming from a home-made cesspit in the back garden.

Officers also found examples of dangerous wiring, including seven rice cookers running from one power point.

A council officer said the whole floor area was crammed with mattresses and the occupants had converted a downstairs living room into a makeshift bedroom.

The residents, who are thought to work in the construction industry, were collectively paying £1,000 a month in rent, the council said.

Councillor Susan Hall, deputy leader of Harrow Council, said: "Illegal houses of multiple occupation present a clear danger to those living in them and a nuisance to those living nearby - in this case neighbours who were disturbed by smells.

"Landlords who decide to profit from cramming people into properties should take note that we will take enforcement action to stop this kind of exploitation."
http://www.24dash.com/news/Housing/2008 ... rrow-house