Fines for companies who employ people after visa has expired

[The Fugative]

If someone who is on a UK ancestry visa continues to work for a company after their visa has expired what fines can the employer face if found to be employing someone who is not entitled to work in the UK?

I've heard it's in the region of thousands of pounds.

And what are the odds of the authorities finding out?

[Buenchico]

The maximum fine is �5000.
Source:
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en/home/0/preventin g_illegal.Maincontent.0004.file.tmp/changes_to_law.pdf

The odds of being found out? How long is a piece of string? If the employer has lots of illegal workers on his books the odds are very high. Otherwise, somebody might get away with it for years but, equally, it's possible that the information might come to light, as the result of a totally separate investigation, tomorrow.

Chris