The Licensing Sub-Committee of Ealing Council was scheduled to consider an application for the review of a premises licence for Sira Superstore. The meeting's agenda also included procedural guidance.

Review of Premises Licence for Sira Superstore

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application for the review of the premises licence for Sira Superstore, located at 13-15 King Street, Southall, Ealing, UB2 4DG. This review was initiated by Ealing Council's Licensing Enforcement and Compliance team.

The report pack indicated that the review was based on concerns related to the Prevention of Crime & Disorder licensing objective. Evidence presented included statements from Licensing Compliance & Enforcement Officer Robert Dear and Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers. These statements detailed a joint compliance visit on 9 May 2025, during which three individuals were encountered and subsequently arrested on suspicion of illegal working. The report also referenced previous incidents, including a joint visit with Police and Immigration on 3 March 2017, which found two workers illegally in the UK, and a discovery of counterfeit tobacco products on 9 March 2017. Further incidents in September 2017 involved the discovery of duty-diverted alcohol.

The application for review highlighted that the premises licence holder, General Superstore Ltd, and the Designated Premises Supervisor, Mr Minda Sira, were failing to promote the Prevention of Crime & Disorder objective. The report stated:

The Premises Licence Holder is failing to promote the Prevention of Crime & Disorder objective and is falling well below the expected standard.

The review application also detailed the negative impacts of employing illegal workers, including undercutting legitimate businesses, exploitation of undocumented individuals, and loss of tax revenue for the government.

The report pack also included a representation from the Workplace and Public Safety team concerning public safety issues observed during a visit on 9 December 2025. This included dangerous excavation works being carried out adjacent to the shop while it remained open for trade, poor air quality due to fumes from the construction, and slip and trip hazards on the shop floor. A Prohibition Notice was issued on 10 December 2025 requiring the construction works to stop due to imminent risk.

Immigration Enforcement also submitted a representation in support of the review, reiterating concerns about illegal working and immigration crime. They noted that on 9 May 2025, three individuals were arrested at Sira Superstore, all of whom were found to not have the right to work in the UK. The representation detailed the immigration status of these individuals and highlighted that one worker confirmed being paid £5 per hour, which is significantly below the National Minimum Wage. The report referenced Section 182 guidance of the Licensing Act 2003, which states that employing individuals disqualified due to their immigration status should be treated particularly seriously, and that revocation of the licence should be seriously considered.

The report pack also contained the Premises Licence for Sira Superstore, detailing its opening hours, licensable activities, and mandatory conditions.

Panel Procedure Guidance Note

The committee was also scheduled to consider a Panel Procedure Guidance Note, which would have outlined the procedures to be followed during the hearing. This guidance typically covers aspects such as the order of proceedings, the roles of parties involved, and the process for reaching a decision.