Sonning landlord fined for fire safety breaches
July 31, 2009
A Sonning landlord has been fined £2,500 for putting tenants’ lives at risk after failing to take adequate fire safety precautions.
Peter Lewin appeared before Reading Magistrates on Thursday, July 9, when he was prosecuted by Royal Berkshire Fire Authority on two charges relating to a home at South View Avenue in Caversham.
Mr Lewin, of South Drive, admitted two charges of placing people at serious risk of death or serious injury from fire, after failing to ensure adequate fire safety arrangements were in place and failing to provide an appropriate fire alarm at the property.
He was fined £500 for a lack of fire safety arrangements and a further £2,000 for the fire alarm charge.
Mr Lewin was also ordered to pay £3,500 in costs.
The charges were brought against Mr Lewin, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, after fire safety inspectors visited the house in South View Avenue in 2007.
The house was rented out to various tenants at the time and inspectors deemed the fire safety precautions inadequate and issued an enforcement notice demanding improvements.
The court heard how a second visit to the property in March last year found three of the required improvements were still not in place.
In summing up the case, District Judge Pritchard took
into account the fact Mr Lewin had carried out a fire risk assessment, as required by law, but had failed to provide an appropriate fire system – putting residents at risk.
The court granted Mr Lewin 12 months to pay the fines and costs, but warned he could face a six-month prison sentence if he failed to pay in time.
David Walden, technical manager for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This case illustrates the seriousness with which courts regard a failure to address fire safety in commercial premises.
“Those responsible for fire safety on their premises must take their responsibilities seriously – the law is clear on what is expected.
“Fire and rescue services are no longer required to issue fire safety certificates but we do carry out rigorous inspection programmes of commercial premises to ensure they are meeting the required standards.”
Friday 31 July 2009
Thursday 30 July 2009
New IFEDA Training Course
Looking for another income? Coming soon from IFEDA : Fire awareness trainers course i.e. train the trainer. Train fire marshals and all who have responsibility for a company's fire protection products and training. WATCH THIS SPACE!
Monday 27 July 2009
Latest RRO Breach
Notts businessman sentenced for fire safety breach
A NOTTS businessman has been fined and given a suspended sentence after breaching fire safety laws.
Michael Snow, who runs Treasure Trove Fairs, in Botany Park, Mansfield, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, and fines of £24,000.
He was also told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £9,000.
Snow appeared at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on Friday after pleading guilty to breaching fire safety laws at his premises, which were being used as an indoor car boot market.
During a routine inspection of the property Notts Fire and Rescue made some recommendations to Snow.
But, after a complaint, officers returned to the site and found that the improvements had not been completed.
Notts Fire and Rescue is now reminding all owners and occupiers of buildings that they could face legal action if they breach fire safety regulations.
Mark Huckerby, head of fire protection at Notts Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We are here to advise and support local businesses and are always willing to help to make sure they comply with the fire safety legislation.
"However, the public should continue to be reassured that we take any breaches of fire safety very seriously and will use legal sanctions where necessary.
"In this case, my officers had previously spent some time ensuring that the occupier was aware of his responsibilities and duties to ensure peoples safety and it is disappointing that he chose to place people at risk from fire."
A NOTTS businessman has been fined and given a suspended sentence after breaching fire safety laws.
Michael Snow, who runs Treasure Trove Fairs, in Botany Park, Mansfield, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, and fines of £24,000.
He was also told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £9,000.
Snow appeared at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on Friday after pleading guilty to breaching fire safety laws at his premises, which were being used as an indoor car boot market.
During a routine inspection of the property Notts Fire and Rescue made some recommendations to Snow.
But, after a complaint, officers returned to the site and found that the improvements had not been completed.
Notts Fire and Rescue is now reminding all owners and occupiers of buildings that they could face legal action if they breach fire safety regulations.
Mark Huckerby, head of fire protection at Notts Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We are here to advise and support local businesses and are always willing to help to make sure they comply with the fire safety legislation.
"However, the public should continue to be reassured that we take any breaches of fire safety very seriously and will use legal sanctions where necessary.
"In this case, my officers had previously spent some time ensuring that the occupier was aware of his responsibilities and duties to ensure peoples safety and it is disappointing that he chose to place people at risk from fire."
Monday 20 July 2009
RRO: Landlords Imprisoned for Fire Safety Breaches
July 2009
Two landlords have been sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs for breaching the fire safety legislation. The prosecution followed a fire on 31st March 2007 at a house converted into bedsits on Hampden Road, North London. Previous to the sentencing at Wood Green Crown Court on 12th June 2009, Michael de Havilland and Sally Fox of Muswell Hill had pleaded guilty to several breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. These breaches included: Inadequate fire detection systems; A lack of proper fire doors for bedrooms or the communal kitchen; No emergency lighting in the building’s stairway; A lack of fire fighting equipment i.e. fire extinguisher / fire blankets; No fire risk assessment available for inspection. A further inspection was arranged where an enforcement notice was issued, explaining that the breaches needed to be dealt with. But after further contact with the co-owners and further inspections over a number of months, inspecting officers found that no remedial work had been completed.
"This is our second prosecution resulting in a custodial sentence and again sends out a strong message to landlords and building owners," said Brian Coleman, chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. "Our role is to keep Londoners safe, and where we see that you are not taking your legal fire safety responsibilities seriously, we will take action."
Two landlords have been sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs for breaching the fire safety legislation. The prosecution followed a fire on 31st March 2007 at a house converted into bedsits on Hampden Road, North London. Previous to the sentencing at Wood Green Crown Court on 12th June 2009, Michael de Havilland and Sally Fox of Muswell Hill had pleaded guilty to several breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. These breaches included: Inadequate fire detection systems; A lack of proper fire doors for bedrooms or the communal kitchen; No emergency lighting in the building’s stairway; A lack of fire fighting equipment i.e. fire extinguisher / fire blankets; No fire risk assessment available for inspection. A further inspection was arranged where an enforcement notice was issued, explaining that the breaches needed to be dealt with. But after further contact with the co-owners and further inspections over a number of months, inspecting officers found that no remedial work had been completed.
"This is our second prosecution resulting in a custodial sentence and again sends out a strong message to landlords and building owners," said Brian Coleman, chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. "Our role is to keep Londoners safe, and where we see that you are not taking your legal fire safety responsibilities seriously, we will take action."
Thursday 16 July 2009
Latest IFEDA newsletter
The latest edition of FireTalk IFEDA's quarterly newsletter can be found at www.ifeda.org/newsletter.htm with information on the latest RRO and asbestos legislation breaches, news on the AGM and member updates. For members there is a more comprehensive version in the members only area.
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