Latest news with #ChickenNBeer
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bournemouth's Chicken N Beer loses licence after illegal workers found
A chicken bar where two illegal workers were found after a raid by immigration officials has been stripped of its licence to sell man and woman ran out of the back of Chicken N Beer in Stanfield Road, Bournemouth, when officials spotted them in Immigration Enforcement said the man entered the UK illegally on a small boat in 2022 and that neither of them had ever been allowed to work in the Council's licensing sub-committee removed the licence after a hearing on 20 May following an application by Dorset Police. The council said it was appropriate to take the licence away because Chicken N Beer showed there was "no alternative outcome that will mitigate the concerns raised by Dorset Police and Home Office Immigration Enforcement".The man found at Chicken N Beer said he had worked at the bar for "nearly a month" and had provided no official documentation to prove he had a right to woman entered the UK on a student visa in 2023 but her student leave expired in May 2024. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- BBC News
Bournemouth bar where illegal workers found could lose licence
A chicken bar where two illegal workers were found after a raid by immigration officials should be stripped of its licence to sell alcohol, police man and woman ran out of the back of Chicken N Beer in Stanfield Road, Bournemouth, when they were spotted by the officials in Immigration Enforcement said the man entered the UK illegally on a small boat in 2022 and that neither of them had ever been allowed to work in the country. The bar's premises licence holder, Roy Francis, said he had stepped down from being a director of the company that runs it before the man and woman were found working there. BCP Council's licensing sub-committee was told the man's claim for protection was withdrawn in February 2024 after he told immigrations officials he had worked as a cleaner at Chicken N Beer for "nearly a month" and said he provided no official documentation to prove his right to woman entered the UK on a student visa in 2023 but her student leave expired in May claimed protection, which is still under consideration, last pair said they were paid below the minimum wage and in cash, with the man telling officials he received £6 an hour for working three hours a Francis said the management of the venue's licence is set to be transferred to another BCP Council said that while it has received an application for the transfer, it has not received any payment for licensing sub-committee will make a decision on the licence, which could result in it being revoked, changed or left as it is, within the next five working days. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Takeaway employed asylum seeker who had tuberculosis
A chicken takeaway shop was found to be employing three asylum seekers, including one who had tuberculosis. Home Office officials discovered the Indian workers in the kitchen of the Chicken N Beer restaurant in Bournemouth, Dorset. The trio were being paid as little as £6 an hour by the owner, an official report stated. When immigration officials raided the premises in February, all three of the workers fled, with two being apprehended. Of them, a female, was found hiding at the back of the takeaway. She was wearing a work top with her name on. Checks showed she had entered the UK in 2023 on a student visa, which expired in May 2024, and had since claimed for asylum. She said she had worked at Chicken N Beer for over a month and did 15 hours a week, earning £7 an hour cash in hand, significantly under the £11.44 minimum wage. She admitted she had tested positive for tuberculosis (TB) last September and the report said she claimed that Roy Francis, the owner, knew about it. But she claimed he had only told her to get a test and seemed to allow her to continue working. TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that most often affects the lungs. It spreads through the air when people with the disease cough, sneeze or spit. The woman also showed the officials her Application Registration Card (ARC) which clearly stated 'NO WORK'. Her asylum claim is still under consideration. A male worker, who had been seen prepping vegetables in the kitchen, also ran from of the building when officers arrived. It was established he had arrived in the UK on a boat in September 2022 but his claim for asylum was withdrawn in February 2024. He never held the right to work in the UK. When questioned he confirmed he worked three hours a day at £6 an hour cash in hand. In his interview with immigration officers, the man admitted he had not provided any documents to Mr Francis to confirm he was able to work in the UK – but he still permitted him to work. Mr Francis allegedly explained that because it takes time and effort to train people only for them just to leave, he doesn't conduct the checks until they are about to be employed. The case has been revealed in a report presented to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council's licensing committee which will decide whether the takeaway can retain its trading licence. The report stated Chicken N Beer 'posed a serious and considerable risk to public safety' by having an asylum seeker with tuberculosis working there illegally. The officials found that owner had failed to notify the local health authority about there being a case of TB in the community as required by law. The report added that while the woman was working Mr Francis failed to take any precautions to prevent the contagious disease that killed 1.25m in the world in 2023 from spreading to his customers. Following the visit the Home Office Civil Penalties Team issued Mr Francis with a £90,000 penalty. A statement from the Home Office's immigration enforcement unit said: 'The license holder, Roy Prasnathan Francis, could have protected himself and prevented crime and disorder by completing a straightforward Right to Work check for both individuals. 'One of the persons who was working at the premises was suffering from a notifiable disease. If this worker does have tuberculosis, this poses a serious risk to public safety.' When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for Chicken N Beer said the eatery was under new management. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Telegraph
Chicken takeaway employed asylum seeker who had tuberculosis
A chicken takeaway shop was found to be employing three asylum seekers, including one who had tuberculosis. Home Office officials discovered the Indian workers in the kitchen of the Chicken N Beer restaurant in Bournemouth, Dorset. The trio were being paid as little as £6 an hour by the owner, an official report stated. When immigration officials raided the premises in February, all three of the workers fled, with two being apprehended. Of them, a female, was found hiding at the back of the takeaway. She was wearing a work top with her name on. Checks showed she had entered the UK in 2023 on a student visa, which expired in May 2024, and had since claimed for asylum. She said she had worked at Chicken N Beer for over a month and did 15 hours a week, earning £7 an hour cash in hand, significantly under the £11.44 minimum wage. She admitted she had tested positive for tuberculosis (TB) last September and the report said she claimed that Roy Francis, the owner, knew about it. But she claimed he had only told her to get a test and seemed to allow her to continue working. TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that most often affects the lungs. It spreads through the air when people with the disease cough, sneeze or spit. The woman also showed the officials her Application Registration Card (ARC) which clearly stated 'NO WORK'. Her asylum claim is still under consideration. A male worker, who had been seen prepping vegetables in the kitchen, also ran from of the building when officers arrived. It was established he had arrived in the UK on a boat in September 2022 but his claim for asylum was withdrawn in February 2024. He never held the right to work in the UK. When questioned he confirmed he worked three hours a day at £6 an hour cash in hand. In his interview with immigration officers, the man admitted he had not provided any documents to Mr Francis to confirm he was able to work in the UK – but he still permitted him to work. Mr Francis allegedly explained that because it takes time and effort to train people only for them just to leave, he doesn't conduct the checks until they are about to be employed. The case has been revealed in a report presented to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council's licensingcommittee which will decide whether the takeaway can retain its trading licence. The report stated Chicken N Beer 'posed a serious and considerable risk to public safety' by having an asylum seeker with tuberculosis working there illegally. The officials found that owner had failed to notify the local health authority about there being a case of TB in the community as required by law. The report added that while the woman was working Mr Francis failed to take any precautions to prevent the contagious disease that killed 1.25m in the world in 2023 from spreading to his customers. Following the visit the Home Office Civil Penalties Team issued Mr Francis with a £90,000 penalty. A statement from the Home Office's immigration enforcement unit said: 'The license holder, Roy Prasnathan Francis, could have protected himself and prevented crime and disorder by completing a straightforward Right to Work check for both individuals. 'One of the persons who was working at the premises was suffering from a notifiable disease. If this worker does have tuberculosis, this poses a serious risk to public safety.'
