Business shut down temporarily as court order imposed following repeated offences

A CARDIGAN takeaway has been forced to close temporarily after immigration officers discovered illegal workers during a raid.

Officers from Immigration Enforcement visited Romino’s Pizza & Kebab in Finch Square on Wednesday (Mar 5), where two men from Turkey were found working without the legal right to do so.

The Home Office confirmed that this was not the first time the premises had been targeted. During three previous visits, a total of six illegal workers had been identified, resulting in fines totalling £135,000 for those responsible.

Following the latest visit, officials issued an illegal working closure notice, preventing access to the premises and banning any paid or unpaid work from taking place on site.

Such notices allow authorities to shut down a business immediately for up to 48 hours where illegal employment is identified.

Court order imposed

The following day, Thursday (Mar 6), Immigration Enforcement applied to Llanelli Magistrates’ Court for a formal illegal working compliance order, which was granted.

The order places strict conditions on how the business operates and can remain in force for up to twelve months.

These measures can include restricting access to the premises, requiring full right-to-work checks on all staff, and allowing immigration officers to carry out further inspections.

Such orders are typically used where previous enforcement action has failed to bring businesses into compliance.

Takeaway reopens amid investigation

The Herald understands the takeaway reopened on Monday (Mar 10) and began advertising for new staff the same day.

However, further action may follow, as the Home Office has also requested a review of the premises licence by Ceredigion County Council on the grounds of preventing crime and disorder.

Government warning

A Home Office spokesperson said illegal working damages legitimate businesses and local wages, while also supporting organised immigration crime.

They added that enforcement activity is increasing nationwide, with a significant rise in arrests, and warned that further action will be taken against employers who break the law.

A woman who was reported to police for drink-driving from a Narberth pub has been banned from the roads

A COURT has heard how a motorist was arrested by police officers following a call stating that she was drink-driving from the Ivy Bush in Narberth.

The call was made just after 10pm on February 22.

“The caller stated that Tanya Hanna was drinking-driving from the Ivy Bush in a Mercedes,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

When Hanna, 36, was apprehended by officers at Kiln Park Road, a roadside breath test proved positive while further tests at the police station showed she had 47 mcg of alcohol in her system, the legal limit being 35.

Hanna, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the drink-driving charge. She was represented in court by Michael Kelleher.

“It wasn’t the most pleasant situation when someone took umbrage with Tanya and phoned the police,” he said. “As a result, she has lost her job.

“She knows she’s let herself and her family down, because without a driving licence, it’ll be very difficult for her to keep in regular contact with them, having to rely on public transport.”

Hanna, of Beach Hotel, Marsh Road, Pendine, was disqualified from driving for 14 months. She was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

A MILFORD HAVEN motorist has been banned from the roads after being caught driving on Cleddau Bridge when he was over the drink-drive limit.

Andrew Evans, 36, was stopped by officers just before 1am on February 25 as he drove his Nissan Qashqai northwards towards Neyland.

After providing a positive roadside breath test, subsequent tests carried out at the police station showed he had 42 mcg of alcohol in his system, the legal limit being 35.

This week Evans, of Great North Road, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. He was represented in court by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“He believed he’d allowed enough time for the alcohol to pass through his system but that, unfortunately for him, was a dreadful mistake although his alcohol levels were decreasing all the time,” said Mr Kelleher.

Evans, who has no previous convictions, was disqualified from driving for 13 months. He was fined £461 and ordered to pay a £184 court surcharge and £85 costs.