The Home Office has asked for a town curry house’s licence to be revoked after ‘illegal working’ was discovered.
In a raid at Spice Garden, in Risbygate Street, Bury St Edmunds, on June 5, East of England Immigration Compliance Enforcement encountered five Bangladeshi males; three did not have the right to work and two were working in breach of conditions.
A further compliance visit was made on June 25, which raised additional concerns about the conduct and management of the premises.
Immigration Enforcement has requested the licence of Spice Garden, in Risbygate Street, Bury St Edmunds, be revoked.
An application for a licence review has been made, and a public notice on West Suffolk Council’s portal said the licence holder – Mohammed Nural Alam – had failed to meet licensing objectives of prevention of crime and disorder ‘as illegal working has been identified’ at the site.
A Home Office report compiled for the review said St Edmunds Spice House Ltd was issued a £200,000 penalty on July 10, which was reduced to £120,000 on August 29.
However, no payments were made and the firm’s Companies House page said it appointed a voluntary liquidator on November 25.
“Across both visits, no evidence was provided to show that correct right-to-work checks had been conducted on individuals working or assisting within the premises,” the report said.
“The failure to carry out such checks facilitated the employment of illegal workers and demonstrated a pattern of non-compliance by those responsible for managing the premises.”
Further concerns were raised on the payment of workers, with one worker reporting they were paid £5 to £10 a day as well as food and accommodation.
Enforcement officers entered the restaurant at 8.09pm on June 5 and encountered the five individuals.
Home Office checks on one worker, who ‘appeared nervous’ during the visit, said he entered the country on a six-month family visit visa in May 2009, was refused a claim for protection in 2015, had an ongoing application for leave to remain and did not have the right to work.
The worker described his role as ‘like a waiter’ and said he had made the manager aware he was not allowed to work in the UK
A different worker, encountered in the kitchen, claimed he only worked two to three days a month, mainly when called in for help.
He was found to have entered the country on a six-month family visit visa in May 2006 and submitted multiple applications for leave to remain but, at the time, had none outstanding.
The report said he was an overstayer and never held the right to work in the country.
“Immigration Enforcement submits that for commercial reasons those engaged in the management of the premises employed illegal workers and a warning or other activity falling short of a review is inappropriate,” the report said.
“Therefore, Immigration Enforcement has proceeded straight to review. Immigration Enforcement asks that the premises licence is revoked.”
Spice Garden was approached for comment.
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