National retailer fined for fire safety offences
Martin Mcoll Ltd has been ordered to pay more than £21,000 after pleading guilty to five charges under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
The prosecution was brought following a fire at the property in Montague Road, Southampton on 1 October 2010. Officers from Fire and Rescue Service found breaches of the legislation which included:
- Failure to review the fire risk assessment
- Failure to ensure that the outstanding issues identified in the fire risk assessment were put into place
- A padlock securing the rear fire exit door
- Failure to maintain fire safety equipment
- Failure to ensure that the manager of the premises had been adequately trained
The case was heard on 26 November at Southampton Magistrates Court. The Chair of the Bench said: “Whilst we have listened in detail to the mitigation offered by the defence and have given due credit for a timely guilty plea, we consider that the offences are serious in nature and that the company should be fined £3,500 for each of the five offences plus a £15 victim surcharge making a total of £17,515. The Service’s costs of £3,817.51 should also be paid in full.”
Speaking after the case, it was said “We work closely with businesses to help them with their duty to comply with fire safety law, ensuring the safety of our community and making Hampshire safer, but where their responsibilities are not taken seriously, the Service will always consider prosecution.”
