By Staff reporter

A NATIONWIDE campaign to stop "heavy-handed" Home Office raids on curry restaurants has been backed by St Albans MP Kerry Pollard.

The Guild of Bangladeshi Restaurateurs claims the curry restaurant industry is being damaged by Home Office officials who turn up unannounced with uniformed police officers to look for illegal immigrants.

Chairman of the 2,500-strong guild Enam Ali said this frightens customers and staff and damaged a restaurant's reputation in the community.

Mr Ali said: "Of course we understand that the authorities have to carry out checks on staff and our members are fully supportive of efforts to clamp down on illegal immigrants.

"However there is no reason why such checks could not be made in a sensitive way, with a proper respect for the business and customers.

"Is there really any need for raids to be made at prime dining times and for uniformed officers to be present?

"We believe that a less confrontational approach would be more productive and less damaging to our business."

Mr Ali added that legitimate staff could be driven from the industry.

Mr Pollard is the chairman of the UK Bangladesh Parliamentary Group. He said: "Chad Rahman, international curry chef of the year, has a restaurant in my constituency where I eat regularly.

"He would be appalled, as I would be, if the police raided his establishment in such a heavy-handed manner.

"I will be taking this matter up with the Home Secretary."