Restaurant's licence removed over illegal workers

Home Office officials arrested three people after they visited the restaurant in June

A restaurant has had its licence suspended after three people were found to be working illegally at the venue.

The Home Office visited Kaaizan's in Longsands Parade, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, in June, and found three men working illegally, who were subsequently arrested.

It alerted Huntingdonshire District Council who reviewed the Indian restaurant's licence.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary told the council's licencing committee meeting on Wednesday that it was concerned about possible modern slavery at the establishment.

'Red flag'

In a statement to the committee, Det Sgt Chris Acourt said the men were living and working at the restaurant and had no contracts of employment, which he described as a modern slavery "red flag".

In his statement he said: "Based on the report provided it shows that the three individuals highlighted both work and sleep at the restaurant.

"This would be a modern slavery red flag due to the concerns about whether the highlighted individuals had any choice about where they live or if it was a condition of their employment."

The licensing committee decided to suspend the licence for three months, which is the maximum length of time it could order.

The committee's record of decision, which was published shortly after the meeting, said the committee decided to suspend the licence - rather than revoke it - as the business was in the process of being sold.

However, any new owner would have to ensure there were "robust right-to-work checks" in the future.