AROUND 1,260 unsafe food items have been destroyed after a coordinated operation in Witley Industrial Estate in Southall.

Food safety officers from Ealing Council worked with the police and the Home Office to carry out the raid early in the morning of May 28, with council officers targeting unsafe food production and seizing 360 baguettes as a result of poor temperature control.

Ealing magistrates last week ordered the food to be destroyed and awarded the council full costs of £591.36.

Another business operating at the same estate also agreed to voluntarily dispose of 900 food items which had not been produced hygienically.

During the operation, police officers from Southall Green Safer Neighbourhood Team arrested a 20-year-old man for a public order offence.

Officers from the Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement team also arrested a 28-year-old Indian man, who had overstayed his visa.

He has been placed on immigration bail and must report to the Home Office while his case is progressed.

Sarah Burton, head of the West London Home Office Immigration Enforcement team, said: “We regularly work with other agencies, including Ealing Council, to tackle businesses that employ illegal workers.

“Our officers carry out regular operations in west London and it will only be a matter of time before we catch up with people.”