The Hao Lai Karaoke Bar in Huddersfield has lost its premises licence following a review by Kirklees Council’s Licensing Panel, requested by West Yorkshire Police (WYP).
The licence was revoked after a joint investigation in April uncovered three illegal workers and three underground "massage rooms" suspected of offering sexual services. During the investigation, officers also found several breaches of licensing objectives, including a lack of functional CCTV and failure to maintain incident and refusal logs.
Although the bar's licence holder, Mrs. Ming Li, refuted the illegal worker allegations, the council panel determined that licensing objectives regarding public safety and the prevention of crime and disorder had been breached. Police stated that the decision to revoke the licence sends a strong message that illegal activities will not be tolerated in licenced premises.