Council rules on Lancaster restaurant which employed illegal foreign workers

People with links to Bangladesh had been found working illegally at Bombay Balti in China Street in various visits by Home Office immigration inspectors since 2015.

And officials said more than £75,000 remains unpaid from a total £85,000 in civil penalties owed by companies which have owned the restaurant over time.

Home Office officials asked Lancaster city councillors to revoke the premises licence, saying other measures, such as additional conditions or a suspension, would not be enough to act as a deterrent to the licence holder and other businesses.

The grounds for the review were based on the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective, following evidence of illegal working at the premises identified during enforcement visits in 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2025.

The council’s licensing sub-committee, meeting on Thursday March 5, heard from Home Office immigration officer Kevin Martindale about a long enforcement history at the premises, when on each visit at least one individual was identified as working illegally.

Civil penalties totalling £85,000 were issued to companies associated with the operation of the premises; most remain unpaid because successive companies were dissolved or placed into liquidation.

The workers admitted to receiving low rates of pay or working for food, indication exploitation.

Mr Martindale said the licence holder and/or those managing the business repeatedly failed to conduct statutory right to work checks and that previous enforcement penalties had not secured compliance.

There is clear evidence of illegal working in breach of the crime and prevention objective, he said, and added that merely imposing additional conditions would be insufficient and the licence should be revoked.

The current premises license holder Zakia-El-Mahnil told the meeting she is the new owner of the company Bombay LA1 Ltd, which was set up on June 16 2025 with her as the sole director.

She accepted that she was working at the premises at the time of the last immigration visit and said she had learnt from that experience and there are no illegal workers at the premises now.

She also confirmed that staff are paid via bank transactions as opposed to cash.

Making its decision, the sub-committee said it was satisfied that there had been a persistent and serious pattern of conduct that undermines the prevention of crime and disorder objective.

However, while concerned about the history of illegal workers being employed at the premises, they decided that on this occasion, the licensing objectives can be promoted through a stringent package of conditions which will address the identified risks, provide transparency and allow for ongoing scrutiny and enforcement.

Furthermore, they decided to remove Nazrul Khan as the Designated Premises Supervisor, as there was clear evidence that illegal workers had been employed at the premises.

The sub-committee report summed up by saying: “In reaching this decision it has taken into account the licence holder’s stated willingness to comply, and her representations that as the new owner of the premises she is making a clean start with the business.”

The premises licence is also to be modified to include the following additional conditions:

• Right to work checks: The premises licence holder must ensure that any person/individual working on the premises has a right to work check completed prior to commencement of their employment. Copies of right to work documents must be retained by the premises license holder as a result of conducting checks relating to an employee right to work. The documents will be stored securely on the premises. Right to work documents must be made available to Home Office Immigration Officers and any other authorised officers at all times upon request. The premises licence holder must not employ a person or individual who does not have the right to work in the UK.
• CCTV: The premises shall install a CCTV system within one month of the sub-committee hearing held on March 5. The premises shall operate a CCTV system that complies with the minimum requirements of Lancashire Police.
• Challenge 25: The Challenge 25 scheme must be operated to ensure that any person who appears to be under the age of 25 shall provide documented proof that he/she is over 18 years of age.

The report added: “Subject to the above conditions, the premises licence shall continue in force. The sub-committee considers these conditions to be appropriate and proportionate to promote the licensing objectives.”

The parties have a right of appeal within 21 days from receiving the written decision.