Bakery ordered to pay £8000 for breaches of Fire Safety rules

Date published: 21 June 2010

At Salford Magistrates on the 17 June two company directors representing Rahat Bakers Ltd, based in King Edward Buildings, Salford, entered guilty pleas to three counts under the Regulatory Reform(Fire Safety) Order and were ordered to pay a total of £8921.83.

The court case follows an investigation by fire officers resulting from a complaint about the fire safety measures in place in March 2007. A fire officer inspected the property resulting in part of it being subjected to a prohibition notice, preventing it being used. The property was also the subject of a number of subsequent follow up inspections, culminating in Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service starting legal proceedings in March 2009.

During the hearing GMFRS presented photographic evidence showing the significant risk the conditions would have posed, if a fire had occurred. Two company directors attended the court, to offer a guilty plea on behalf of the company.

Cllr Paul Shannon, Vice Chairman of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority said, “We welcome the clear message from the courts that action will be taken against those businesses that neglect fire safety and thereby risk the safety of staff and the public. The Fire Authority is focussed on helping businesses operate safely and taking action when they don’t”.

Jim Owen, Assistant County Fire Officer (Fire Safety) said, “We always support businesses that work to make their premises safe for people to use. However, we are also willing to take action to protect the people of Greater Manchester where business owners and managers choose not to treat fire safety as a legitimate business requirement, and where necessary will prosecute serious offenders”.