Two foreign nationals were arrested in Medway during an operation involving immigration, police and council environmental health officials.

UK Border Agency officers joined Kent Police, Medway Council and the Environmental Health Agency in targeting premises in Strood aimed at dealing with immigration offences, under-age sales, food hygiene issues, drug use and anti-social behaviour.

An Indian man was found working illegally at the Darnley Fish Bar, in Darnley Road, and has been detained in custody pending his removal from this country.

A Chinese man who was employed at the Good Luck Restaurant, in Gravesend Road, was also found to have no legal right to work here.

He has been released on immigration bail whilst the UK Border Agency works towards his removal.

Karyn Dunning who heads up the UK Border Agency’s local immigration team in Kent said: "The UK Border Agency is committed to removing people who have no right to be in the UK and will continue to work closely with other law enforcement agencies to do so.

In addition to the immigration arrests, licensing enforcement actions were put in place at 10 premises in the town, four written warnings were made for breaches of licensing conditions and six verbal warnings were given for failure to display or produce the licence.

Seven premises were identified by environmental health officers as having food and safety issues.

And five notices were issued under the Environmental Protection Act which requires business owners to produce documentation within 14 days relating to their waste disposal.

Cllr Mike O’Brien, Medway Council’s portfolio holder for community safety and enforcement and vice-chair of Medway Community Safety Partnership, added: "It is important that regular inspections are made by enforcement agencies to deal with public safety concerns and to promote feelings of safety within the community.