Following applications made by the Home Office (Immigration Enforcement), two restaurants in Chippenham and Pewsey have had licenses suspended due to illegal working taking place on the premises.

Wiltshire Council’s Northern and Eastern Area Licensing Sub-Committees made the decisions at their recent respective meetings. The reviews of the premises licences at Tale of Spice in Pewsey and Tale of Spice in Chippenham were requested by Immigration Enforcement on the grounds that the premises licence holders have failed to meet the licensing objective of the prevention of crime and disorder, due to illegal working identified at the premises.

The suspension of the licenses for both restaurants relates to the selling of alcohol on the premises.

The restaurants have a right to appeal.

The grounds for the review at Tale of Spice, 9 North Street, Pewsey, included:

•    A visit to the premises on 20 September 2019, identified seven persons found to be working illegally Previous visit on 18 August 2018, identified five persons found to be working illegally
•    Previous visit on 4 April 2014, identified six persons found to be working illegally The decision of the Eastern Area Licensing Sub Committee in respect of the Tale of Spice, Pewsey, was as follows:
•    To remove the Designated Premises Supervisor – Mr Abul Jashim
•    To add a condition to the licence that all relevant records must be maintained and retained accordingly of the right to work of any person working at the premises. Such records to be made available for inspection on demand by any Responsibility Authority.

In order for the above condition to be actioned and for a new Designated Premises Supervisor to be put in place at the Premises that the Premises Licence KK/PL0274 be suspended for a period of three months until 16 April 2020.

The grounds for the review at Tale of Spice on Malmesbury Road, Chippenham included:
A visit to the premises on 20 September 2019, identified seven persons found to be working illegally. Previous visit on 16 April 2015, identified seven persons found to be working illegally.
Previous visit on 12 June 2015, identified one person found to be working illegally.

The decision of the Northern Area Licensing Sub Committee in respect of the Tale of Spice, Chippenham was as follows:

•    To remove the Designated Premises Supervisor – Mr MD Hafizur Rahaman
•    To add a condition to the licence that all relevant records must be maintained and retained accordingly of the right to work of any person working at the premises. Such records to be made available for inspection on demand by any Responsibility Authority.
•    In order for the above condition to be actioned and for a new Designated Premises Supervisor to be put in place at the premises that the Premises Licence LN/000003324 be suspended for a period of two months until 16 March 2020.

Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “These are the first cases of this type that we’ve dealt with and the outcomes demonstrate how vital it is that employers carry out full and thorough checks to ensure that the people they employ are legally allowed to work in the UK, and take steps to protect vulnerable individuals. “The suspension of these licences of the two restaurants will likely result in a loss of trade for them and we hope it sends a clear message that such matters aren’t acceptable.”