TAO and Bambudda in Darlington employed 'illegal workers'

Darlington Borough Council will consider the futures of Bambudda and TAO Asian Street Food at a meeting next Tuesday (October 8). 

Immigration officers visited both restaurants on July 3 and made several arrests after discovering six people working illegally across the two sites. 

Durham Constabulary suggested revoking the licenses of both restaurants after the raids. 

License holder Benjamin Wu was described as having “shown complete disregard for UK immigration laws by employing illegal workers”. 

A statement from Durham police read: “As the sole director of the company I would expect Benjamin Wu to have had better management of his employees and to have a full understanding of their right to work in the UK, or lack of it.

“It is evident that Mr Benjamin Wu is not promoting the licensing objective of prevention of crime and disorder, as illegal workers have been identified.”

A council report says Mr Wu was “obstructive and un-cooperative” while interviewed by immigration officers, “refusing to sign documents and leaving abruptly during questioning.”

Bambudda, at Gladstone Street, and TAO, at Blackwellgate, have remained open to customers since the July incidents. 

However, the police warned the owners may have formed new companies to transfer ownership of the restaurants since the arrests. 

A statement added: “Both premises have the same individuals named either on company’s house/license applications and over the past few months have created new companies, changed directors, address of the businesses and also tried to change who is Premier License Holder and Designated Premises Supervisor at the premises, which I suspect is to try and circumvent the licensing act and prevent the review of the premises license.”

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“Durham Constabulary is therefore fully supportive of the outcome sought by the Immigration Compliance and Enforcement team and feel that revocation of the premises license should be considered by the sub licensing committee.”

On Tuesday, the council’s licensing committee will decide whether to: modify the licence; change the supervisor; suspend the licence; revoke the licence; or take no action. 

Representatives for Bambudda and TAO did not wish to comment.