Raid cases passed to Home Office

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Seventy men arrested by police investigating abuses of the immigration system are now being dealt with by the Home Office.

Searches were carried out at 22 sites in Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Ellesmere Port, Sheffield and Kent.

Of the properties raided during Operation Chalice, headed by Merseyside Police, 10 were restaurants.

A police spokeswoman said on Sunday that the men were now being dealt with by the Immigration Service.

Residential and business properties were also searched in Greater Manchester.

Other arrests were made in Rochdale, Hale Barns and Altrincham.

All of the 70 men are aged in their 20s and 30s.

Det Supt Steve Moore, of Merseyside Police, said the developments were the "result of a lengthy investigation into abuse of the immigration system".