Stop Talking, And Start Fining...

Officials have launched renewed talks with Deliveroo, JustEat and UberEats after a week-long operation saw 60 moped riders held for illegal working. Most of them have now been detained pending removal from the country.

Ah, the 'immigrants who are vital to our economy' again, I see... 

Follow-up searches uncovered two imitation guns, a machete and a telescopic baton, a Home Office spokesman said. Telescopic, or ‘friction-lock’, batons can be flicked out to use as a cosh, and are banned under offensive weapons laws.

The operation also found evidence that legitimate moped riders were sharing delivery jobs with acquaintances - usually by the WhatsApp messaging service - and allowing them to carry out the work, the spokesman added.

And what are the authorities doing to ensure these companies take steps to crack down on their employees? 

‘We are in conversations with the delivery app companies to try to improve their engagement with the rules on carrying our right to work checks,’ the spokesman said.

*sighs* 

Remember, These People Are The 'Lifeblood Of London's Restaurant Trade'...

Kesarajith Perera was left red faced after taking a tumble on a patch of oil at The George pub in Harrow, London, prompting his manager Hesham Badra to laugh out loud at his expense.

Mr Perera was later dismissed over an unrelated matter, prompting him to sue Stonegate Pub Company Ltd claiming racial and religious harassment and cite Mr Badra's response to his accident as evidence.

Well, of course, because he no doubt did it with our money! But once again, he met someone not prepared to be swayed: 

But employment judge David Maxwell threw out his case, saying that the 'slapstick element' of someone falling over was likely to provoke laughter.

'Whilst it might be tempting to hope that one colleague would only ever react in a sympathetic way towards the misfortune of another, common experience suggests this is not always the case,' he said.

Hurrah! But what was the 'unrelated matter' that saw him canned, anyway? 

In October, following failure to provide documentation for his proof of right to work in the UK, he was dismissed, prompting him to take the pub's owners to a tribunal complaining of racism.

Oh... 

Mr Perera's additional complaint that he had been given the 'full time role of cleaning toilets' was also dismissed. Judge Maxwell added: 'Cleaning the toilets could scarcely be made into a full-time role.

'Mr Perera's objection was the same as before - this was an unpleasant duty he did not think he should have to carry out.'

Well, indeed! Probably objected to having to wash his hands before waiting tables as well... 

Dismissing his claims of harassment, Judge Maxwell said: 'None of the treatment complained of had the proscribed purpose or effect.

'The conduct itself, objectively, came nowhere near having the proscribed effect, and his view of matters was unreasonable.'

But he did get a consolation prize!

However, the tribunal did rule in his favour regarding unlawful deductions of wages and awarded him £1,426.11.

He was also handed £908.91 for the pub's 'abysmal' paperwork after he was not provided with a written particulars of employment.

Yes, let's all go back to working in offices and paying fortunes for commuting to keep these businesses propped up, shall we? 

"It is like living in an area with no policing or government."

Just like, well, you tell me, Reader...

Each night here vendors, who set up stalls on both sides of the pavement, sell goods from perfumes to street food. However a councillor warned some may be unlicensed and illegal and vowed action will be taken.

Anti-social behaviour and fights are commonplace with one stall brawl on April 3 prompting a police visit. The road is also plagued with traffic congestion with some vehicles taking 20 minutes to get from one end to another. A concerned resident claimed an ambulance could not even get to his house for a medical emergency because of the nightly congestion.

When BirminghamLive visited the road was clogged with traffic. Drivers stuck in the queues blared their horns in frustration.

Import the Third World, get Third World markets...

Cllr Raqeeb Aziz, Councillor for Bordesley Green, said in a statement to BirminghamLive: "The Council is taking action to stop illegal activity around the Coventry Road area. The Council's Highways Department, Community Safety Team, and the Regulation and Enforcement Division are all visiting the area to take the details of those who are involved in setting up the stalls."

Really? The licensed traders and residents say different. They say they rarely see any police or council officials and complaints go unrecorded... 

"The Council is proactively pursuing individuals who don't have the relevant permissions, and are working with West Midlands Police to gather evidence and will be consulting with residents to find long-term solutions to stop this sort of activity in the future."

That'll come as a surprise to residents, who might want to point out, should this consultation ever occur, that the council should already know what solutions are needed. 

"I will continue to work closely with the Council on this issue, so that residents of Bordesley Green can continue observing Ramadan and enjoy the upcoming Eid celebrations in a safe and peaceful way, and that all relevant regulations are adhered to by traders."

There's a name for a statement like this, isn't there, Reader?