Indian restaurant shut after illegal workers found

An Indian restaurant was temporarily shut down after three men were found to be working there illegally.

Red Rose, in Clevedon, has been handed a six-month court order following a visit by the Home Office's Immigration Enforcement team on 12 April.

Enquiries found three men from Bangladesh, who had no right to work in the UK, were being employed. Despite attempting to evade officers by running out of the back of the restaurant, they were detained and arrested, the enforcement team said.

Taunton Magistrates' Court heard on 16 April how officers had visited the premises twice before and it had previously been issued with a £30,000 fine for hiring illegal workers.

The six-month compliance order means officers will closely monitor the business, including through monthly visits, to ensure it is complying with immigration rules.

It also requires the business owner to provide immigration officers with employment documentation when requested.

Aimee Langston, chief immigration officer at the West of England Immigration and Customs Enforcement Team, said: "I hope this compliance order sends a clear message that we will continue to pursue businesses suspected of breaking immigration rules.

"It is a legal requirement to carry out right to work checks on employees and those who disregard the law and the integrity of our immigration system will face the full consequences."

Immigration enforcement teams have carried out 6,784 illegal working visits to premises and made 4,779 arrests since July 2024 – an increase of 40% and 42% respectively - compared to the same period 12 months ago.

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