FIFTEEN people have been arrested in the Vale of Evesham on suspicion of immigration offences.

The ten adults and five minors, from Eritrea in East Africa, were arrested after Home Office Immigration Enforcement were contacted by West Mercia Police at about 2pm on Tuesday, March 24, after attending an incident in Offenham, near Evesham.

The adults have been passed to Home Office Immigration Enforcement to progress their cases and those under 18 are in the care of social services.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We work closely with the police to tackle illegal immigration and continue to strengthen the security of our border to stop those who have no right to enter the UK.

"If people have a genuine need of protection they should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach. If they are just seeking to evade immigration control they need to know that they are risking their lives and that they will get caught.

"The new Immigration Act makes it harder for people to live in the UK illegally. It makes it harder for illegal immigrants to abuse our benefits and public services, and makes it easier for us to remove them by reducing the number of appeals.”

If someone is found to have no legal right to remain in the UK we will take action to remove them.