‘Ill-conducted' Chinese restaurant loses licence

A Chinese restaurant in Liverpool has had its alcohol licence withdrawn as part of a police crackdown against the employment of illegal immigrants.

The directors of the Chung Ku restaurant on the city's waterfront were fined £100,000 last year for breaching employment regulations.

Now Merseyside Police's international crime unit has persuaded magistrates to withdraw the alcohol licence from the restaurant.

They argued that the Chung Ku's licensee, Norman Shum, was "not a fit and proper person to hold a licence, by nature of the premises being ill-conducted".

The ban takes effect immediately and could put the future of the restaurant, a favourite with business leaders and local politicians, in doubt.

Detective Inspector Chris Hughes, head of the international crime unit, commented: "When people get involved in this sort of criminal activity they have to face the consequences. The loss of their alcohol licence will severely impact on their business, and it should be seen as a warning to others who want to engage in these activities."