Immigration checks now required for grant of premises licences

New powers to prevent illegal working in premises that sell alcohol or provide late night refreshment have come into force in England and Wales.

From 6 April a premises or personal licence will not be issued to anyone who does not have permission to be or work in the UK, the Home Office said.

Being granted a licence and continuing to hold it will also be reliant on complying with the UK’s immigration laws, it added..

The measures have been brought in as part of the Immigration Act 2016.

Additionally, the Home Office said it would now be consulted in the same way as the police before a licence is granted.

“If a business has any immigration offences and civil penalties, these will be considered as part of the licence application, and as a ground for making a formal request to a licensing authority for a licence to be reviewed,” it said.

Immigration officers will also receive the same powers as licensing enforcement officers and the police to enter a premises being used to sell alcohol or late night refreshment, in order to investigate immigration offences.

The Home Office said this would enable joint enforcement operations with licensing enforcement officers, and allow immigration officers to enter licensed premises without a warrant where there is intelligence of illegal working taking place.

Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill said: “Illegal working cheats the taxpayer, has a negative impact on the wages of lawful workers and allows rogue employers to undercut legitimate businesses.

“These new measures will allow us to work more effectively with licensing authorities and the police to prevent illegal working in a high risk sector and take the action needed against businesses flouting immigration laws.”

The new measures have come into force in England and Wales and will be followed later this year in Northern Ireland and Scotland.