Takeaway facing fine after illegal worker find
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RUNCORN became one of the first places in the country for Home Office powers targeting illegal migrant workers to be put to use – just hours after the legislation came into force.
Officers from Immigration Enforcement and Cheshire police visited Al Amin Indian takeaway on Regent Street on Thursday.
A Home Office spokesman said the business was served a referral notice in relation to an illegal worker.
He said the 33-year-old Bangladeshi man had overstayed his visa and is now in detention while steps are taken to remove him from the UK.
Al Amin could now face a fine of up to £20,000 if it cannot show that proper checks were carried out.
The spokesman said that operational reasons prevented him from saying whether the enforcement action was the first in the country, but that is was definitely among the first.
The Home Office powers, granted under the Immigration Act 2016, came into force that same day.
They allow Immigration Enforcement officers to enter premises that sell alcohol or late night refreshments.
The Home Office spokesman said residency status checks will now be part of the process for applying for a licence, and from last Thursday, a premises or personal licence will not be issued to anyone who does not have permission to be or work in the UK.
Being granted a licence and continuing to hold it will also be reliant on complying with the UK’s immigration laws.
In addition the Home Office will be consulted in the same way as the police before a licence is granted.
Any immigration offences and civil penalties will be considered in the licence application and could be used to make a formal request for a licence to be reviewed.
Immigration officers will also receive the same powers as licensing enforcement officers and the police to enter a premises being used to sell alcohol or late night refreshment during investigations without a warrant where there is intelligence of illegal working taking place.
Following the Runcorn operation, the Home Office spokesman said: “The referral notice served to the premises warned that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 will be imposed unless the employers can demonstrate that appropriate right-to-work document checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document confirming permission to work.
“This was the first time new powers to tackle illegal working in licensed premises have been used in England.”