A RESTAURANT in Great Clacton has its alcohol licence suspended for three months and faces a £30,000 fine after employing three illegal workers.

Tendring Council’s licensing committee has agreed to temporarily suspend the premises licence of the Saffron Restaurant, in Ravensdale Road.

The decision means the business cannot serve alcohol at any time or serve food after 11pm during that period.

Essex Police applied for a review of the licence after immigration officers found three male illegal workers working in the kitchen during an enforcement operation on February 15.

The business had not carried out correct employment checks and they were escorted off the business. One of the men has since been arrested and removed from the UK.

Saffron Restaurant has 21 days in which to appeal against the licensing sub-committee’s decision.

Essex Police county licensing officer, Stephen Sparrow, said “Employing illegal workers is not a victimless crime, it cheats the government of revenue, it gives premises an unfair business advantage and it prevents people who have a legal right to work job opportunities.

"We have future operations planned and we will continue, along with immigration officers, to take positive action against licensees who employ illegal workers across the county.

“We take these types of cases very seriously. The message is clear if licensees are caught employing persons who have no right to work they must face the consequences.”

People with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact gov.uk/report-immigration-crime or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The Gazette was unable to contact the restaurant for comment.