A councillor has said Bradford Council needs to “root out” illegal working in the district after stripping a business of its premises licence.
Woody Joes on Leeds Road was visited by immigration officers in December 2024, when they found one of the staff there had no right to work in the UK.
The business was slapped with a £45,000 fine in February but this has yet to be paid and the company that ran the restaurant at the time, Woody Joe’s Ltd, has since gone into liquidation.
Bradford Council’s Licensing Panel stripped the company of its licence to serve food after 11pm, although with the business being in liquidation the decision is more of a symbolic one.
The review had come at the request of the Home Office who said the business owner Haroon Rahim had lied to immigration officers during the visit.
In March a new company, Woody Joe’s (BFD) Ltd, was incorporated, and Mr Rahim is not involved with that company.
A report to members of the panel said: “On 12 December 2024, the North East, Yorkshire & Humberside Immigration Compliance Enforcement team visited Woody Joe’s, located at 368 – 370 Leeds Road, Bradford.
“Officers encountered a male who did not hold the right to work in the United Kingdom. He was arrested and taken into custody. A civil penalty of £45,000 was issued to Woody Joe’s Ltd on 24 February 2025 in respect of one individual with no right to work. The penalty was due for payment by 26 March, the penalty remains unpaid and has been referred to a third-party debt collection agency. It must be noted that the company has now gone into liquidation.
“Haroon Rahim was present at the premises and was served the Notice to Occupier as well as the Civil Penalty Referral Notice.
“During the illegal working interview, (redacted) admitted to working at the premises as a chef for approximately one year.
“He stated that he works around 20 hours per week and is paid £228 weekly in cash by the manager, Haroon Rahim. (Redacted) also confirmed that Rahim provided him with accommodation in a flat above the premises, for which he pays £600 per month.
“Home Office checks confirmed that (redacted) entered the UK in November 2019 with leave valid until April 2020. He subsequently overstayed his leave and submitted multiple applications for leave, all of which were refused.
“Haroon Rahim displayed evasive behaviour towards immigration officers as he refused to answer questions directly and kept avoiding officers. During the illegal working interview, he claimed that he did not know who the manager or owner was and that he just worked at the premises. He denied being responsible for employing staff but later confirmed that he was in charge, and that he employed (redacted) and he had worked for approximately nine months at the premises.
“Whether by negligence or wilful blindness illegal workers were engaged in activity on the premises, yet it is a simple process for an employer to ascertain what documents they should check before a person can work.
“Immigration Enforcement asks that the premises licence is revoked. Merely remedying the existing situation (for instance by the imposition of additional conditions or a suspension) is insufficient to act as a deterrent to the licence holder and other premises’ licence holders employing illegal workers and facilitating disqualified immigrants to work illegally.”
Chair of the panel Councillor Sabiyah Khan (Lab, Wibsey): “As Bradford Council we take this matter very seriously and will work with all responsible authorities to root out any illegal working in the district and ensure all licensing objectives are adhered to.”
Members voted to revoke the licence of Woody Joe’s LTD.
