Staff at Byron Hamburgers have accused the company of entrapping foreign workers in an immigration sting, according to insider accounts. Workers were summoned to meetings about burger recipes or cooking techniques, only to be met by immigration officers. One deported worker said the meeting on burger cooking dangers was unusual as they had already received such training.
The Home Office raid on 4 July targeted a dozen Byron restaurants in London, with four to 12 officers at each branch. A kitchen worker described arriving for a meeting at 9.30am, when officers burst in and ordered everyone to stay still before calling out names. Witnesses said questioning lasted several hours.
Thirty-five nationals from Brazil, Nepal, Egypt, and Albania were arrested. A chef estimated around 20 were taken to a holding centre. One worker was handcuffed after objecting to his arrest. Deported workers claimed Byron provided names and photos to immigration, allegedly from HR records.
A deported chef said he was taken to an immigration centre near London Bridge, then to Tinsley House, Verne removal centre, and Harmondsworth. He described being unable to collect belongings or contact friends. He earned £10 an hour for 50-70 hour weeks over two years, stating foreign workers 'work harder than British people'.
Another worker expressed sadness, comparing the atmosphere to the 1930s. A waiter reported an officer saying 'I can't wait for the waiters to come in so I can pounce on them', which disgusted him. The Home Office confirmed the arrests but did not specify deportations.
