Posted: Thursday 8 October 2020, 12:19
Ozgur Cevir, the owner of a Bolsover Express, Market Place, Bolsover has been fined a total of £5000 (4 x £1250), ordered to pay costs of £15,373.95 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £500. Mr Cevir was sentenced on Tuesday 6 October 2020 at Derby Crown Court when he pleaded guilty to four breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
In October 2018 following a fire safety audit, a Prohibition Notice was served on the responsible person for 10 Market Place, Bolsover to prohibit sleeping at the premises. The Prohibition Notice was served following the discovery of beds that were being provided on the upper floor of the premises without adequate fire safety arrangements being in place.
Subsequent to the Prohibition Notice, an Alterations Notice was served requiring notification should there be any plans to provide sleeping accommodation in the future. In January 2019, firefighters from Bolsover were carrying out a routine risk assessment when they identified persons were still sleeping on the premises – this discovery was a contravention of the Prohibition and Alterations Notices, so the Fire and Rescue Authority took the decision to formally prosecute Mr Cevir.
Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, Group Manager Lee Smith said: “Had a fire occurred in the shop, the inadequate fire safety measures would have meant that the people sleeping upstairs would have had insufficient warning to get out and to safety before a fire, or the smoke, prevented them from doing so.
“The issuing of a prohibition notice restricts the use of any premises providing accommodation that does not meet the accepted standards of fire safety. Responsible persons must accept that they have a duty of care to ensure the accommodation they provide is safe and suitable.”
Premises known to provide sleeping accommodation are regularly inspected for fire safety compliance by Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service. The vast majority of these are well managed, maintained and compliant with current fire safety regulations.
Group Manager Smith went on to say: “The Fire and Rescue Service will always consider formal action against anyone found to be in breach of Fire Safety regulations and particularly where they fail to comply with any statutory notices issued.
“The Service will advise and give support to both local and national businesses and are always willing to help make sure they comply with Fire Safety Legislation. The public should continue to be reassured that legal action will be used when necessary, where any serious breaches of Fire Safety Regulations are identified``.
For more information regarding business safety visit www.derbys-fire.gov.uk