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Border Agency raids private college in Gateshead

Four senior staff arrested in immigration probe

The UK border agency has raided a college in Gateshead that it suspects is being used for immigration crime.

Five people were arrested yesterday in a series of raids targeting Castle College, Gateshead, the UK Border Agency said.

The college, which offers language, business and computing courses, also had its licence to enroll overseas students suspended.

The arrests include four senior staff members at the college, who were held on suspicion of using the college to facilitate immigration offences. The other person arrested was a student suspected of breaching the terms of her visa.

A substantial amount of cash was also seized from a safe at the college, the Border Agency said.

The Border Agency also said staff were on site yesterday to "assist any genuine students arriving for their studies".

A spokesman for the college said it would be open for business again tomorrow and the arrested staff members had all been released on bail. ®

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