Home Office officials have arrested 23 illegal immigrants at Eastbourne-based Gardners Books in a night-shift swoop by Immigration Service officers following an informers tip-off.


The 23 workers, who are all understood to work on the night shift, were escorted off the premises on 2 March on suspicion of illegal entry to the UK.


A Home Office spokesman confirmed that as yet no action is to be taken against Gardners but it was something that may become clearer as time progresses.


GPMU mid-southern branch secretary John Bunn said the union was very sympathetic to the plight of asylum seekers.


Of the 21 males and two females, 18 were from the former Republic of Yugoslavia, one from Turkey, one from Albania, one from Zimbabwe and two from Burundi.


The officials detained 13 people, three of which are expected to be deported immediately.


Five have been taken to Oakington detention centre in Cambridgeshire and five are being held in immigration detention pending enquiries.


The remaining 10 people have been granted temporary admission into the UK.


No one from Gardners Books was available for comment.
Last month, the firm was criticised by the local branch of the GPMU, which presented a petition signed by 262 workers demanding better working conditions.


Story by Andy Scott