AN INDIAN restaurant’s premises licence could be suspended amid police concerns over staff and training.

Hampshire Constabulary has submitted an application to review the licence for Blue Ginger, in Bell Street, Whitchurch, on the grounds of preventing crime and disorder.

Officers visited the site on November 24 last year, meeting with staff members whose details were passed onto the Home Office. Earlier in the year, the Home Office had found an illegal immigrant working in the kitchen, according to a Hampshire Constabulary report.

The police inspection found staff did not know the conditions attached to a premises licence, and a later interview with premises supervisor Mohid Ahmed confirmed new staff had not been trained. This included training on how to sell alcohol and related procedure.

A statement from Hampshire Constabulary said: “A young Romanian male that was working in the kitchens was not able to provide his ID.

“I was informed that his belongings were upstairs and he would take me to show me.

“The conditions above the premises were very poor.

“There were a number of rooms that had beds in them, many of which were occupied.

“I was so concerned about the state of the premises and the conditions that the staff were living in I immediately contacted Hampshire Fire and Rescue to carry out a safety visit.”

Police licensing officers have appealed to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for the restaurant’s licence to be temporarily suspended for one month so works could be carried out and staff could be given suitable training.

Both premises supervisors, Mr Ahmed and Mohammad Mustak, police said “proved time and again” they are failing to promote the licensing objectives.

At a Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council licensing sub-committee meeting on February 4, members will decide whether to grant the police’s request for suspension and also removing Mr Mustak as a designated premises supervisor with immediate effect.

Mr Mustak said: “We are working hard to make sure all the obligations are met.

“We have the details of all the staff we employ and when the Home Office do get in touch we are happy to share those details. The staff have always been trained, but not in accordance to the way the police wanted so we are addressing those issues.”