AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into the conduct of immigration officers after a raid over the weekend.

Officers descended onto Professional Hand Car Wash at Wimborne Road in Moordown on Saturday morning (SEP 3) after being handed information.

But staff at the company claim the immigration officials were rude, confrontational and even damaged property.

Farhad Farman, who was in charge at the time of the visit, told the Daily Echo that officers slammed their feet into their company fridge, leaving dirty footprints, and parked their van in the middle of the forecourt stopping customers from accessing the site.

When Mr Farman - originally from Iraq - asked them to move their van to a safer parking spot so that they could continue to serve customers while interviews were carried out with other members of staff, officers became aggressive and even threatened to arrest him.

"They are more than welcome to come in because I know I'm doing everything by the book," he said. "But, to be honest, they were just horrible people.

"My boss had to come in on his day off, away from his family, to sort this out.

"They have been here two or three times in the last year and there has never been a problem.

"It feels like harassment."

The director of the company Duloran Ramadan, also from Iraq but now a British national, said: "We fully understand they have to come.

"We said if you park your van somewhere safe you can come in and interview out staff. Then we can continue to serve our customers. They parked in our valeting area so we couldn't work.

"This is not the way these things should happen. Not when it affects our business."

A spokesperson for the Home Office said: "Acting on intelligence, Immigration Enforcement officers visited Professional Hand Car Wash, 1053 Wimborne Road, Bournemouth at 10.30am on Saturday.

"Staff were questioned to check they had the right to live and work in the UK.

"No action was taken against the business as the employer was able to provide evidence that the required pre-employment checks had been carried out.

"We expect the highest standards from all our staff. We will investigate any formal complaint that suggests these standards have not been met."