Sefton Barbershop Hit with £40,000 Fine for Employing Illegal Worker

A local barbershop in Waterloo has found itself at the centre of a Home Office investigation into illegal employment practices, after being hit with a substantial £40,000 civil penalty for employing someone without the legal right to work in the UK.

Blade Barbers, located on St John’s Road in Waterloo, was one of three businesses in the Liverpool region sanctioned as part of a nationwide crackdown on illegal working. Immigration enforcement officers visited the barbershop in April last year and found one individual employed illegally. Following the inspection, the business was issued a £40,000 fine.

The Home Office has been publishing quarterly updates on businesses penalised for employing illegal workers, as part of a broader campaign to deter companies from bypassing employment laws. In total, £165,000 in fines have been handed out across the three Liverpool businesses in question, which also include a car wash in the city centre and a local supermarket.

While the Home Office statement did not elaborate on whether Blade Barbers had previously faced scrutiny, it emphasised the government’s intent to hold businesses accountable. A spokesperson said:

“Organised immigration crime is a multi-million pound industry. As part of our Plan for Change, we are cracking down on this at every level, increasing enforcement action both against illegal workers and the people who employ them.”

Across the UK, from April to September last year, 771 illegal workers were found and 489 penalties were issued, totalling over £29 million in fines.

Businesses found employing individuals without the right to work face not only steep financial penalties but also significant reputational damage. The updated list serves as a warning to all employers to carry out proper right-to-work checks and comply with the law.

Sefton Bubble will continue to follow this story and provide updates as further details emerge.

📍Location: Blade Barbers, St John’s Road, Waterloo

📆 Penalty Issued: April 2024

💸 Fine: £40,000

📄 Offence: Employing a person without the legal right to work in the UK

If you’re an employer and unsure about your legal obligations, full guidance is available on the official government website to help you carry out proper right-to-work checks and stay compliant.