Restaurant which 'hired illegal immigrants' facing licence axe
A restaurant could lose its licence after it was discovered it was hiring illegal immigrants.
Home Office investigators raided Bilash on Bow Street, Rugeley in November last year and arrested two men.
When it was found they were in the country illegally licence holder Abdul Muktadir was fined £30,000.
But now Staffordshire Police has called for the licence to be revoked stating the restaurant has a total disregard for its trading responsibilities.
Cannock Chase District Council licensing sub-committee will discuss the matter on Thursday.
Councillor Mick Grocott, who represents the area, said: "I have used the Bilash myself. I am aware of what happened and to be honest no-one has really mentioned it since.
"I think it was one of those things where people felt 'okay it has happened, the Government and immigration services has done its job',"
He added: "It is quite a popular place it used to be at Horse Fair and then it moved down in to the town centre, there is always people in there.
"At this stage I will wait and see what the committee decide on Thursday before commenting on the license."
The brief report prepared for the meeting states: "On 24 November 2016, Home Office Immigration officers entered Bilash Restaurant in order to execute a search warrant.
"Two male workers were arrested at the premises at that time and further enquiries into their identity revealed that they were in the United Kingdom illegally.
"Since that time, Mr Muktadir has been served with a Civil Penalty of £30,000 imposed upon him under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.
"Staffordshire Police ask that the premises licence be revoked due to the nature of the criminal offences committed at the premises and the total lack of regard for the licensing objectives."
The committee must decide what is the best course of action to ensure the restaurant meets its four licensing objectives which are preventing crime and disorder, ensuring public safety, preventing public nuisance and protecting children from harm.
The panel has a range of options open to them including modifying the licence conditions, removing the supervisor, suspending the licence or revoke it altogether.
No-one from Bilash was available to comment when contacted by the Express & Star.
