Two Newham businesses have their licence to sell alcohol revoked after they was found employing illegal workers.
Home Office Immigration teams reviewed the licenses of the three businesses under section 51 of the Licensing Act under the licensing objective of Crime and Disorder. This followed visits by the Immigration Service to premises where there were either reports, or a history, of the businesses employing people who did not have the right to work in the UK.
Councillor Amar Virdee, Cabinet Member for Housing Needs, Homelessness and Private Rented Sector and Community Safety and Crime: “The decision of the Licensing Sub-Committee sends a strong message to all licence holders, especially those selling alcohol or providing late night refreshment, that it is vital they have proper systems and procedures in place to ensure all those working on their premises are entitled to work in the UK.
“Employing people who are disqualified from working by reason of their immigration status not only raises safeguarding and modern day slavery concerns, but also reduces the average minimum wage and takes employment opportunities away from residents.”
Two Licensing Sub-Committee hearings were conducted in early March 2025 resulting in a decision to revoke the licences allowing the sale of alcohol in two businesses Variety Foods, Forest Gate and “Priya” Restaurant in East Ham.
The remaining business “Maamalas” Restaurant, Manor Park, had its Designated Premises Supervisor removed and its licence suspended for 3 months. Extra conditions were also added to the licence to ensure relevant right to work checks are carried out on workers before commencing employment, and keeping records of the checks carried out.
The Council recognises and is concerned that where illegal working in licensed premises is found, either in off licences or in late night food take always, there is a risk of exploitation, such as poor pay and poor working conditions. These safeguarding issues are taken extremely seriously. This form of illegal employment can also result in low wages in those workplaces affecting legal employment too. It may also encourage more people to attempt to gain entry to the UK in a way that feeds the continuation of serious risk to those who travel using high risk and illegal ways of reaching the country.
Newham has a published Strategy for a Coordinated Community Response to Modern Day Slavery 2022-2026, to ensure an effective partnership response to preventing and responding to modern day slavery reports.
