Rare prosecution by fire service

In a rare prosecution brought under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Publicana Limited was fined £15,000 following pleading guilty to four fire safety offences. Breaches included fire doors and escape routes being screwed shut, fire doors being propped open, obstructed escape routes and failures to maintain the fire protection systems.

The pub’s breaches were discovered when Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service attended an incident at the Little George Pub in New Road, Chippenham on 5 October 2008. Charges were brought against Publicana as tenants at the time. Charges are also being pursued against the licensee who Publicana had contracted to run the pub.

The company was deemed to have failed to carry out or record a fire risk assessment, failed to have effective policies for protection and prevention measures, and failed to provide suitable and sufficient information to the sub-contractor. Publicana Limited’s fine was discounted by 25% based on an early guilty plea.