Takeaway and shop fined over illegal workers
- Oct 15, 2025
- 1 min read
Two Wirral Businesses Fined £85,000 for Employing Illegal Workers
A Birkenhead takeaway and a Moreton convenience store have been fined a combined £85,000 by the Home Office for employing individuals not entitled to work in the UK.
Papa Gino’s, located on Grange Mount in Birkenhead, received a penalty of £45,000, while the Day Choice Convenience Store on Pasture Road, Moreton, was fined £40,000. Both premises are now facing licence reviews by Wirral Council, following allegations of illegal employment practices.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), immigration enforcement officers visited Papa Gino’s in December 2024 after receiving intelligence about potential illegal workers. Earlier in September 2024, officers also attended the Day Choice shop, where they arrested a man for breaching bail conditions and working without permission.
A Home Office spokesperson said:
“Illegal working undermines honest employers, undercuts local wages, and fuels the criminal industry of immigration crime. This government is determined to clamp down on such illegal activity across all sectors, including retail.”
They added that nationwide enforcement has risen significantly, with visits and arrests up by around 50% over the previous year, and further increases planned.
Between January and March 2025, a total of six Wirral businesses were fined by the UK Government, with combined penalties amounting to £255,000.
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