Exeter curry house under review

An Exeter curry house is set to have its licence reviewed after some staff were found to be working illegally there.

Curry King, which occupies a premises that looks like an ordinary end-of-terrace house, will see its licence scrutinised by Exeter City Council because some staff had been working there without the correct permissions.

The restaurant, located at 49 Fore Street in the city’s Heavitree area, was visited by immigration enforcement officers in April last year as part of an illegal working visit.

Two arrests were made, and the business was served with a civil penalty referral notice, and the case remains ongoing.

Fines can reach up to £45,000 per illegal worker for a first breach and up to £60,000 for repeat offending, a Home Office spokesperson said.

The city council said the grounds for the licence review were that the restaurant had “undermined” the licensing objective of “the prevention of crime and disorder as illegal working has been identified at this premises”.

“Illegal working undermines honest employers, undercuts local wages and fuels organised immigration crime,” a Home Office spokesperson said.

“This government will not stand for it.

“The Home Secretary has announced sweeping reforms to make Britain less attractive for illegal migrants and scale up removals of those with no right to be here.

“Since coming into power, the government has increased immigration enforcement action to the highest level in British history, with an 83 per cent rise in illegal working arrests and 77 per cent rise in raids.”

Curry King was contacted for comment but did not respond.