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THE number of successful fire safety prosecutions in England has increased after a landlord in northwest London and a bar owner in North Yorkshire were both fined after pleading guilty to breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.
In London, a landlord in Harrow was ordered to pay more than £10,000 in fines and costs. Vispasp Sakari was prosecuted following a fire at a house of multiple occupation on 22 November 2007.
Fire safety inspectors from London Fire Brigade found that the fire alarm was not functioning and the main exit was obstructed. Fire doors were unserviceable due to missing or broken parts and the fire extinguishers were past their testing dates.
In addition, the cupboard of the main electrical supply unit was full of combustible material and wires had been left exposed.
In Harrogate, bar owner Ali Ucar was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £500 costs for breaching two enforcement notices served by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. The notices were issued after fire safety officers discovered dangerous conditions at the Mezze Café Bar.
The court heard that Mr Ucar failed to rectify the dangerous conditions and allowed people to sleep in the premises, despite there not being an adequate fire alarm system, emergency lighting or means of escape. An exit door could not be fully opened and a locked gate blocked escape into the street behind the property.
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