Long term, as has already been explored, the new Polish communities in the UK are largely welcomed. Those with experience of the communities and life within them hail their work ethic and values. As one commentator from the Polish Cultural Institute said: “Polish culture means hard work. Also family and personal relationships are very important. It’s a far less cynical society than here. We are importing old-school notions that history has proven work rather well.”

Paul Statham, professor of sociology at Bristol University added: “It has been about values – a mass arrival of people with traditional values that have been eroded here.”

So Polish workers coming over to work in Britain have brought with them a work ethic often absent from the indigenous workforce. In some ways it harks back to the kind of work ethic with which Britain used to pride itself. They also, in many cases come with a set of family and community values, again which can be described as traditional and which many would welcome, especially as Britain has of late been associated more than any other country with family breakdowns and the associated breakdown of the community.

In terms of the views of the Polish immigrants themselves, the views are not surprisingly mixed. Some state an intention to settle in their new country and make it their new home while others state they have no long term plans and their immediate intention is to try and make as much money as possible before returning to Poland.

This goes some way towards explaining why some highly qualified migrants are seen doing night shifts in the local supermarket. It is a temporary move to make some money although those Poles who do intend to settle in the UK, in time will hope to ascend into the ranks of the skilled workforce.

Those who are here may send some money home but not all. A survey from Western Union said that 60% of Poles working in the UK do send money home, according to the National Bank of Poland about £4 billion is sent by Polish workers in the UK back to their families in Poland. However, as young people, without many responsibilities, some enjoy spending their hard earned cash on the streets of Britain. The survey also found that on average those Poles who are in the UK take three trips back home to Poland every year.