2 days ago
Home Office sting finds 'illegal workers' at North Staffordshire takeaway
Home Office officials found staff at a North Staffordshire takeaway not permitted to be working in the UK. Now Abbies in Leek has lost its licence.
It comes after the Home Office had approached Staffordshire Moorlands District Council over the discovery at the Sheep Market kebab shop. Now the owners will have to pay £5,000 to the local authority - and close by 11pm.
Council officials say the Home Office asked the council to review the business' licence 'after finding workers at the premises who were not permitted to work in the UK.' Following a hearing at the council's licensing sub-committee back in March last year the decision was made to revoke the premises licence.
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However at the time the licence holder appealed and was allowed to continue operating pending. But the local authority said it was notified last month that they no longer wanted to continue with the appeal.
As such the decision by the council was implement meaning it must be closed by 11pm. The owner must also pay the council £5,000 to cover some of the costs of the case.
Councillor Bill Cawley, cabinet member for communities, said: 'The council cannot allow businesses to breach the conditions of their operating licences. Conditions are attached to licences for a reason and it's essential that businesses comply with those conditions in the interest of public safety.
'So I'm pleased, as are residents, that the Council's decision to revoke Abbies premises licence can now take effect.'
We have contacted the Home Office for comment.
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