The Government has put together the new system of civil penalties as part of its efforts to reform Britain's immigration controls.

People who have knowingly employed an illegal worker will face an unlimited fine or even prison as part of the crackdown on illegal immigration. Those that negligently do so could be fined up to £10,000 per illegal worker.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

"The new civil penalties are a more effective way of dealing with employers who use slipshod or exploitative recruitment methods.

"Together with the introduction of compulsory identity cards for foreign nationals next year, there can be no excuse for not checking the identity of those applying for jobs."