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Prosecution

Successful prosecution for breach of fire safety legislation...

01 Mar 2010

A landlord and owner of accommodation to let has been fined £15,000 plus £10,000 towards costs, after pleading guilty to seven charges relating to inadequate fire safety standards.

Proceedings were brought following a visit to the property, 6-8 Shirley Avenue in Southampton, on 9 May 2007 by members of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's Fire Protection Group who found significant contraventions of fire safety measures within the building.

It was found that the defendant, Mr Hoskins, did not have a suitable Fire Risk Assessment for his building, which was being used as a house in multiple occupation (HMO). The building also did not have a working fire alarm to warn the tenants who slept there if a fire started.

The Fire Protection Group also discovered a number of other fire precaution failures including missing and disabled fire doors, as well as combustibles that blocked or compromised the escape routes.

Together, these failures made the situation so dangerous that Fire Officers prohibited Mr Hoskins from allowing people to live and sleep in the building.  At a subsequent inspection it was found that Mr Hoskins had allowed tenants to remain in his premises - contrary to the Prohibition Notice - exposing them to a real risk of death or serious injury had a fire started.

In summing up, Judge Hope stated that Mr Hoskins had not been fully frank and helpful to the investigating officers and had a 'cavalier attitude to fire safety'.

Speaking after the case, Tony Deacon, Southampton Group Manager said:

“This is an excellent result. This case represented an individual who was clearly putting lives at risk. The fact that no-one was injured does not detract from the potentially fatal consequences if an incident had happened.

“I urge all owners and managers who let rooms individually, or as a group within a building, to take their responsibilities very seriously. All owners and operators must make themselves aware of the current fire legislation.

“I would like to congratulate all members of the Southampton Fire Safety Team and the Service’s Enforcement Support Team for the excellent work they have done to bring about this prosecution.”

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Councillor Royston Smith, Chairman of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority, said:

“The public needs to be reassured that we take this duty very seriously and today’s sentencing clearly demonstrates how our fire safety officers are successfully inspecting buildings and applying the law to help ensure the safety of our communities. We continually strive to help individuals and businesses achieve compliance and safer premises, and we hope that this case acts as a reminder to anyone who lets properties or rooms that the Fire Authority will prosecute serious breaches of fire safety law.”

Councillor Phil Williams, Cabinet Member for Housing and Local Services at Southampton City Council, added:

“Tenants' safety is vital. Our joint inspection of this property helped bring about this prosecution. We will continue to work with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service to ensure that private tenants live in safe homes and we will take enforcement action where a more informal approach fails.”

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