20 ‘illegal migrants’ held in swoop on London hospitals

Twenty suspected illegal immigrants have been arrested in raids on Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals.

Police and UK Border Agency officers swooped early yesterday and seized workers as they arrived for shifts.

They are believed to be catering and cleaning staff and officials are investigating claims that employees forged documents allowing them to work in Britain. All are believed to have been hired through the Reed employment agency. Most are thought to be of West African origin.

Fifteen people were appearing at Tower Bridge, Westminster and Camberwell magistrates' courts todaycharged with fraud and immigration offences. Three people were in the custody of the UK Border Agency and are expected to be deported.

A Reed spokesman said: "We performed all checks legally required but were misled by what appears to be so-phisticated forged documentation."