SF Callinton Limited fined £30,000 following “serious” fire safety breaches at Chinese takeaway

Following a tip-off in January, fire safety officers from the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service attended Sun Fung House in Callington and identified significant and serious fire safety breaches throughout the premises.

At the time, the premises was being operated as a Chinese takeaway with rooms on the ground and first floor set aside for employee accommodation. The inspection process revealed a lack of fire safety precautions deemed so serious that immediate action was taken to prevent anyone sleeping in the premises until the identified issues were rectified.

Following a hearing at Bodmin Magistrates Court, SF Callinton Limited was ordered to pay a total of £30,000 in fines, £5,000 towards costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge after pleading guilty to all five offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

The offences listed are as follows: 

*failure to take such general fire precautions as were reasonably required in the circumstances to ensure that the premises were safe

*failure to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to which relevant persons were exposed for the purpose of identifying the general fire precautions

*failure to ensure that the premises were – to the appropriate extent – equipped with fire detection and alarm systems

*failure to ensure that, in the event of danger, it was possible for persons to evacuate the premises as quickly and as safely as possible in that there was an inadequate means of escape

*failure to ensure that the premises and any facilities, equipment or devices were subject to a suitable system of maintenance and were maintained in an efficient state and effective working order and good repair

Compliance with the Fire Safety Order

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service is reminding businesses with sleeping accommodation that they are required to comply with the stipulations laid down in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Kathryn Billing, chief fire officer at the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, noted: “I hope this case serves as a reminder to all businesses that, if you provide sleeping accommodation, you must ensure fire safety rules are obeyed. This includes providing adequate means of escape, a suitable fire warning and detection system and also ensuring that all fire safety provisions are adequate and regularly maintained.”

Billing concluded: “My team will investigate any breaches and we will take action to ensure no-one is put at unnecessary risk.”

Councillor Martyn Alvey, portfolio holder at Cornwall Council with responsibility for the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, observed: “This is great work by the fire safety team and sends a clear message to all businesses across Cornwall. If they don’t follow the rules, they will be prosecuted.”

Councillor Alvey added: “Nothing is more important than the safety of workers within a premises. Businesses must action the precautions outlined in law to ensure that no unnecessary risks are being taken.”