A Lancaster Indian restaurant has kept its premises licence, even though thousands of pounds of penalties relating to the use of illegal workers remains unpaid.
Immigration officials from the Home Office found people working illegally at Bombay Balti on China Street in various visits since 2015.
More than £76,000 remains unpaid from a total £85,000 in civil penalties owed by companies which have owned the restaurant between those visits and now, due to what the Home Office call ‘phoenixism’, where companies are deliberately liquidated to avoid punishment.
In a report into a licence review to be discussed by Lancaster City Council, Home Office officials said that they wanted councillors to revoke the premises licence, as in their opinion, other measures, such as additional conditions or a suspension, would not be enough to act as a deterrent.
But Lancaster City Council have opted to take the step of modifying the conditions of the licence, including changing the designated premises supervisor and imposing stricter checks on workers.
Councillors said there had been a ‘persistent and serious pattern of conduct’ that undermined the prevention of crime and disorder, where employing people who are unlawfully in the UK was concerned.
The hearing heard that they are no illegal workers there now, and staff are now paid through banks and not by cash.
Nazrul Islam Khan will no longer be the restaurant’s designated premises supervisor, and instead a new license holder, Zakia El-Mahnil, owner of a company called Bombay LA1 Ltd which now owns the restaurant, will take the role.
The panel heard that Mr Khan will have a front-of-house role and is also a chef.
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