North East businesses have been fined thousands of pounds after they were found to be employing illegal workers.

The businesses have been listed in the Government's quarterly round-up of companies that have had penalties issued for the use of illegal workers.

According to the data - which is updated every three months - the ten businesses that have been caught have been fined between £10,000 to £50,000.

The Home Office releases the data into the public record four times per year, and the latest data relates to the period of January 1 to March 31, 2024, and was released on Saturday (August 31).

The 10 businesses that have been fined for employing illegal workers are: 

  • Acre Rigg Social Club Limited, Acre Rigg Social Club, Lowhills Road, Peterlee, County Durham, SR8 2DW, £​15,000
  • Sarah Shawarma, Adam Anwar Limited, 110 Parliament Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 4JJ, £​20,000
  • Shiny Hand Carwash, Arsalan Ahmed, 5 John Street, Consett, Durham, DH8 5LA, £​15,000
  • Fishing Vessel - GV Artemis 1BAG FR LLP, Hartlepool Bay Port, Hartlepool, TS24 0EQ, £​30,000
  • Bengal Spice Limited, Bengal Spice Limited, Bengal Spice Limited, 47 Prospect Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO12 7JX, £​15,000
  • Bitz ‘N’ Pizzas, Bitz N Pizzas Ltd, 24 Flowergate, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3BA, £​50,000
  • Crispy Slice, Hanid Food Ltd, 92 High Street West, Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, NE28 8HY, £​10,000
  • Mist Shisha Lounge/Pool/Snooker, Inspire Investments Group Ltd, 339 Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, TS5 6AB, £​10,000
  • Istanbul Shwarma, Istanbul Shawarma 4U LTD, 61 High Street, Redcar, North Yorkshire, TS10 3DD, £​15,000
  • Reem’s Pizzeria, Zabih Jabarkhil, 180 York Road, Hartlepool, TS26 9EA, £20,000

According to the Government, there can be severe penalties for employing individuals who do not have the right to work.

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Gov.uk says: "You can be sent to jail for 5 years and pay an unlimited fine if you’re found guilty of employing someone who you knew or had ‘reasonable cause to believe’ did not have the right to work in the UK.

This includes, for example, if you had any reason to believe that:

  • They did not have leave (permission) to enter or remain in the UK
  • Their leave had expired
  • They were not allowed to do certain types of work
  • Their papers were incorrect or false