Abingdon takeaway owner receives suspended prison sentence for fire safety breaches
The owner of the Sami’s BBQ and takeaway in Ock Street, Abingdon has been sentenced by Oxford Crown Court (Friday 13 August) for multiple breaches of fire safety legislation, which put lives in danger.
Fire safety inspectors from Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service visited the premises in August 2019, and found that the business owner, Mr Dumanli – a Director of Dub Catering Ltd – had failed to ensure there was an adequate risk assessment of fire, any working smoke alarms, and had failed to protect escape routes in case of fire. Mr Dumanli had removed a life safety sprinkler system that had been in place to safeguard the people sleeping on upper floors.
The takeaway was operating on the ground floor and had several bedrooms above the premises over two upper storeys. Following a complaint that fire safety measures were insufficient, a fire safety audit was conducted under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and inspectors found that the premises were so dangerous that they were left with no alternative but to prohibit the use of the building for sleeping until safety measures were improved.
As a consequence, they ordered the immediate removal of tenants on safety grounds by use of a prohibition notice, so that it could not to be used for sleeping or resting. Issuing a prohibition notice restricts the use of any premises providing accommodation that does not meet the accepted standards of fire safety.
An investigation by the fire safety team resulted in Mr Dumanli appearing in court in May this year, where the business owner pleaded guilty to all four charges as the business operator; and four charges on behalf of Dub catering Ltd.
He was sentenced to six-months imprisonment for each of the four charges, suspended for two years; to run concurrently. DUB Catering Ltd was fined £30,000 for each count resulting in fines of £120,000 with full costs awarded to Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service.
In sentencing, the judge described the attitude to fire safety as ‘woefully inadequate’.
Chris Wilson, from Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, who interviewed Mr Dumanli, said: “We are finding an increasing number of takeaways and restaurants that have sleeping accommodation above, where no fire safety measures have been implemented, or in this case, have been completely removed by the business owner. With several cases so far this year, we are asking business owners, who have a legal duty, to ensure fire safety measures are in place.”
Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “Our inspectors take these issues very seriously and will not hesitate to take action where they find that the law has been breached. We ask takeaways and restaurants throughout Oxfordshire to take note of the outcome of this case. This level of fine is significant and gives a clear message about how serious fire safety is to the community and to businesses.
“Responsible persons – business owners or employers – must accept that they have a duty of care to ensure the accommodation and business premises they provide, are safe and suitable.”
Any business person or employee can seek fire safety advice by emailing fire.service@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service’s vision is to work every day to save and improve the lives of people across the county. For more information, visit www.365alive.co.uk
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