THREE restaurants in Cornwall have been fined thousands of pounds after it was discovered they were employing illegal workers. 

An Indian restaurant, a Chinese takeaway, and a hand carwash, all based in Cornwall, were among the latest businesses in the UK to be fined for employing illegal workers, according to new data released by the Home Office. 

The Amity Tandoori on Higher Fore Street in Redruth, the Eastern Dragon Chinese Takeaway on Frances Street in Truro, and the Polbathic Hand Car Wash in Torpoint, were all fined thousands between January 1, 2023, and March 31, 2023. 

Collectively, the four restaurants were fined approximately £75,000, with Amity Tandoori fined £20,000, Eastern Dragon Chinese Takeaway fined £10,000, and Polbathic Hand Car Wash fined £30,000. 

According to the Home Office, employers can be sent to prison for five years and pay an unlimited fine if they're found guilty of employing individuals who they know or had ‘reasonable cause to believe’ did not have the right to work in the UK.

Employers can also be penalised if they employ someone who does not have the right to work and they did not do the correct checks, or they did not do those checks properly.

The Packet has contacted all four businesses for comment.