Restaurant faces licence review due to illegal workers

The force has asked that Stafford Borough Council review the premises licence at Indian restaurant Shimla Palace, Cromwell House, Wolseley Bridge after three males were found to be working at the site last year.

On October 5, 2016, officers visited the restaurant, run by Mr Abdul Muktadir, and made the discovery.

Mr Muktadir was also the licence holder at Bilash in Rugeley, which had its alcohol licence revoked in August due to illegal workers being found.

Police say that there has been 'a total lack of disregard' for licensing objectives at Shimla Palace and have asked that the council remove the license.

This will be discussed at an upcoming Stafford Borough Council licensing sub-committee meeting on October 18.

Papers given out to committee members ahead of the meeting read: "On August 31 2017 the council received an application for a review of a premises licence for Shimla Palace from Staffordshire Police.

"The police have requested the review of the premises licence in relation to two of the licensing objectives, namely the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety.

"Staffordshire Police state they have significant concerns around Mr Muktadir's commitment to work within objectives of the Licensing Act 2003.

"The police application states that as a result of two search warrants executed by the immigration services, three illegal workers were found to be in employment at the Shimla Palace on October 5 2016.

"Police state that when Mr Muktadir was interviewed he clearly demonstrated a lack of due diligence in relation to the employment of three males."

The restaurant licence holder has already been fined £30,000 in relation to the discovery and could face having his licence taken away if the committee agrees it is the right thing to do.

Shimla Palace has a 4.5 star rating on popular website TripAdvisor and more than 1,200 likes on Facebook.

Summing up the reasons given for the licence review request, the committee papers read: "The premises licence holder has been fined £30,000 for offences under section 15 of the immigration, asylum and nationality act 2006.

"Staffordshire Police ask at this time for the revocation of the premises licence due to the nature of the criminal offences committed at the premises and what they say is a total lack of regard for the licensing objectives."