A number of provisions in the Immigration Act 2016 came into force on 12 July 2016, these include

• A new criminal offence of employing an illegal worker where the employer has reasonable cause to believe that a person is an illegal worker. Previously employers had to knowingly employ an illegal worker for an offence to be committed
• Increased powers for Immigration Officers to enter business premises to search for documents and to take and retain evidence of an offence
• A new power to close premises for up to 48 hours where a business employs illegal workers.

 

Further information is available at https://www.gov.uk/penalties-for-employing-illegal-workers