Home Office Demands Licence Revocation for Portsmouth Restaurant Over Illegal Workers
Crackdown on Illegal Employment at Noble House
The Home Office is pushing Portsmouth City Council to pull the licence of Albert Choi’s Noble House after a fresh raid exposed illegal working on the premises. Following their visit, Immigration Enforcement called for a formal review and urged the council to revoke the restaurant’s licence outright.
Repeated Raids Spark Tough Response
This latest operation led to three arrests, adding to three more made during two previous visits in 2012. The Home Office slammed any watered-down punishment, insisting that “additional conditions or suspension is insufficient” to deter Choi and others from breaking the law by employing illegal and disqualified workers.
Choi ‘Beside Himself with Rage’ During Raid
According to a report from a nameless officer, Mr Choi flew into a fury when immigration officers appeared at his Osborne Road business on a Saturday night. “He tried to block one officer heading to the kitchen and followed us through the busy restaurant, shouting and haranguing us,” the officer said. Choi also threatened legal action, claiming he had “powerful friends” at the council and would take the matter to court.
Illegal Workers Found Living On Site
Checks revealed that all three kitchen staff, living in a flat above the restaurant, had no right to work in the UK. The Home Office has slapped Choi with a civil penalty, warning that whether through negligence or wilful blindness, employing illegal workers is a crime. “It’s simple for employers to verify documents before hiring,” they noted.
The licence review will be decided by a council licensing sub-committee later this month.
