
![]() |
Brian Sims
Editor |
Home> | Fire | >Fire and Rescue | >Northampton restaurant owner fined for breaching fire safety legislation |
Home> | Fire | >Legislation | >Northampton restaurant owner fined for breaching fire safety legislation |
Northampton restaurant owner fined for breaching fire safety legislation
18 November 2024
SURAJ PATHAK, the owner of the Mewar Haveli restaurant (located on the Wellingborough Road in Northampton), has been fined for breaching the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

The protection team at Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service acted on intelligence that the loft space at the premises was being used to house several of the establishment’s employees.
A designated fire protection officer inspected the premises and found evidence of that practice, as well as other deficiencies. The latter included no fire detection system having been installed and inadequate escape and access routes, in turn raising the risk that occupants would not be warned if a fire started and could end up trapped in the property.
The restaurant was served with a Prohibition Notice by the Fire and Rescue Service in April 2023, which prohibited people from sleeping on the premises. The decision was taken to prosecute due to the breaches of fire safety legislation being so severe in nature.
Guilty plea
Pathak was charged with breaching the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – and pleaded guilty to that charge – during a hearing conducted at Northampton Magistrates’ Court (pictured) on 29 October.
Pathak was issued with a Community Order for 200 hours of unpaid work to be completed within 12 months and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £114, as well as costs amounting to £750.
Meeting the standards
Following the hearing, Scott Richards (head of protection at Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service) said: “Our fire protection officers acted quickly when they received information that safety was being compromised at these premises. Our primary aim is always to protect people and, where possible, we will work with restaurants and other businesses to make sure they meet the standards required to keep their staff and customers safe.”
Richards continued: “On this occasion, the breaches were so severe that we were left with no option but to prosecute and send a strong message to the owner that it’s unacceptable to put lives at risk.”
Further, Richards noted: “We are happy that the Magistrates’ Court recognised the level of risk involved and sentenced the owner accordingly. This verdict serves as a timely reminder for all businesses that fire safety is incredibly important. There will be consequences for non-compliance.”
- Nineteen Group launches duo of expanded cyber security events for 2021
- Huawei secures partial role in UK 5G networks
- Fire Safety North - LIVE
- NFCC calls for additional Government action to combat extreme weather events
- Labour urges Government to solve tower block cladding crisis by June 2022 deadline
- Housing developer fined for ignoring data request
- Grenfell Tower Inquiry raises issues on lack of regulation for fire risk assessment providers
- World Health Organisation body declares firefighting “carcinogenic”
- Fire and Rescue Services mark Firefighters Memorial Day 2022
- Leaseholder ordered to pay over £3,000 by Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court
- State of the Union
- Government outlines fire service reforms
- From the editor
- Fire safety returns home to NEC Birmingham
- Blog for FSM website
- Cigarette fires on the rise
- Union outrage at 'obscene' pay rises
- State of the Union
- Fire safety on the agenda in Scotland
- Major fire at Worcester hub of home delivery firm