The Licensing Sub-Committee of Croydon Council was scheduled to consider an application for the review of a premises licence for Kongunadu Restaurant. The review was initiated by the Home Office Immigration Enforcement Licensing Compliance Team, citing concerns related to the prevention of crime and disorder.

Application for a Review of a Premises Licence

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application for a review of the premises licence held by Mr. Manikandan Santhosam for Kongunadu Restaurant, located at 129 Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon, CR0 6BE. The application was made by the Home Office Immigration Enforcement Licensing Compliance Team, a responsible authority under the Licensing Act 2003¹.

The review was based on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder. The report pack indicated that an enforcement visit on 20 March 2025 identified an individual working illegally at the premises. This led to the serving of a civil penalty referral notice, and subsequently, a civil penalty of £40,000 was issued to Kongunadu Restaurant Ltd for employing one person without the right to work in the UK. The report noted that this penalty remained outstanding.

The Home Office Immigration Enforcement argued that the premises licence holder and management failed to conduct mandatory employment checks, which would have revealed the individual's lack of right to work. The report highlighted that the employment of illegal workers provides an unfair competitive advantage and deprives the UK economy of tax revenue. It was also stated that the worker claimed to receive free food and have their rent paid in exchange for work, which was considered labour exploitation.

The report pack outlined the potential steps the sub-committee could take, including modifying the conditions of the licence, excluding a licensable activity, removing the designated premises supervisor, suspending the licence for up to three months, or revoking the licence entirely. The Home Office Immigration Enforcement submitted that a revocation of the licence was appropriate, citing that a warning or other lesser action would be insufficient as a deterrent.

The report also detailed the council's Statement of Licensing Policy², which outlines the framework for licensing decisions and the promotion of the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. The policy includes considerations for cumulative impact assessments³ in specific areas of Croydon, though Kongunadu Restaurant's location was not explicitly listed within the designated cumulative impact areas detailed in the policy.