Truck stop on edge of Northampton has licence reviewed after immigration raid

The Red Lion Truck Stop, off the A45 near junction 16 of the M1 had its premises licence reviewed by South Northants Council after it was raided by police who arrested eight on suspicion of immigration offences.

Cllr Dermot Bambridge, SNC’s portfolio holder environmental services said: “Valued businesses have a right to thrive, but they must ensure the proper checks are carried out on their employees and that those checks can be verified if the immigration authorities come knocking at the door.”

A review of the premises licence held by Ali Sadrudin of Earls Lane, Deddington for The Red Lion Truckstop in Weedon Road, was called for by a Northamptonshire Police Licensing Officer following the execution of an Immigration Act Warrant on Tuesday, 26 April 2016.

In the application for the licence review, police reported that eight people were arrested during the raid and taken into custody under suspicion of immigration offences.

During a meeting of SNC’s Licensing Sub-Committee on Thursday, 21 July, members heard that the subsequent investigation led to Immigration Enforcement issuing the licence holder with four civil penalties, but that those penalties were being appealed.

No further action is being taken in respect of the other four alleged offences.

Members also heard that around 70 people had written to SNC in support of the truck stop and against the potential licence revocation.

No representations supporting the police application to review the licence were received.

The sub-committee members concluded the truck stop was of value to the district, was highly regarded by its customers, and considered that the revocation of the premises licence was not required in this instance.

The sub-committee determined that the prevention of such offences in the future could be achieved through the addition of further conditions to the licence which was modified to require Mr Sadrudin to: operate a comprehensive digital human resources system, to work with government and other agencies to check whether staff have the right to work in the UK, that no new person should be employed without confirmation of their right work in the UK and that employment documentation should be retained for at least 12months after someone has ceased to work at the truck stop.