Takeaway owner fined due to multiple breaches of Fire Safety Order

On 2 June, Mulk and his company were ordered to pay a total of £25,000 including £5,000 worth of prosecution costs. The breaches included a failure to comply with a Prohibition Notice, failure to provide appropriate fire detection and warning systems and failing to maintain means of escape within the premises.

During the sentencing, His Honour Judge Egbuna said: “When Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service officers attended the premises for a business safety check in November 2022, there was no automatic fire detection, no risk assessment in place and the staff had no fire safety training.”

His Honour Judge Egbuna continued: “Mr Mulk failed to put in place measures that the Fire Authority expects of a takeaway and, if a fire had started, it would have posed a real risk, not only to Mr Mulk himself, but also to his employees and neighbouring premises.”

Further, His Honour Judge Egbuna affirmed: “However, Mr Mulk did finally comply with the Prohibition Notice after months of guidance from the Fire and Rescue Service. As such, the Prohibition Notice was lifted. Nobody should ever wait for tragedy to happen before they change.”

Creating safer communities

Tom Clark (fire protection station manager at the Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service) commented: “Our commitment is towards creating safer communities, for the people who live, work in and visit Nottinghamshire, which is not just by attending incidents, but by preventing them from happening in the first place and ensuring fire safety provisions are adhered to at all times.”

Clark added: “The sentencing given to Mr Mulk and Langold Express Ltd by His Honour Judge Egbuna will have a very substantial financial impact in the context of their finances. It sends a clear message to other business owners that fire safety is not optional. Those who fail to meet their legal responsibility will be held accountable. Further, those who do comply need to know that they’re being supported.”

In addition, Clark noted: “While the requirements of the Prohibition Notice were finally complied with, it did take many attempts, including repeated visits and ongoing communication, to ensure the necessary changes were made. These efforts by our inspecting officers were crucial in bringing the premises up to standard and, ultimately, keeping people safe.”

*Further information is available online at www.notts-fire.gov.uk