[18 September 2007]

Fire Safety Prosecution - Co-op Group

Following a phone call from a concerned member of the public in July 2006, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service carried out a precautionary fire safety inspection on the Co-op store, London Road, St Leonards-On-Sea. Inspecting officers found a range of serious fire safety issues within the premises, prompting a Senior Fire Safety Officer to initiate a full audit of all Co-Op stores based within the County of East Sussex and the City of Brighton & Hove. East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service had previously prosecuted the Co-op store back in 2006 for breaches in fire safety codes of practice.

Further to the detailed examinations that ensued, serious fire safety deficiencies were recorded in 38 of the 41 Co-op stores within these areas and a senior Co-op manager was consequently interviewed under the Police & Criminal Evidence Act (PACE)

In March 2007, 20 summonses were served against the Co-op store by the local Magistrates Court as a result of serious fire safety offences in a total of six different stores. The offences included obstructing and locking fire exits, failure to complete fire risk assessments, having no fire alarm systems, having no emergency lighting and leaving fire doors wedged open.

The case against the Co-op store was presented to Brighton Magistrates Court on 3rd August 2007 and the Co-Op pleaded guilty to a total of thirteen offences. The Magistrates determined that the matters before them, were in fact so serious, the sentencing powers of the Magistrates Court was not deemed adequate enough on this occasion. The case was subsequently passed onto the Crown Court for sentencing and in September 2007, after listening to evidence from both sides, the judge imposed fines totaling £250,000 against the Co-Op Group and awarded the Fire Authority full costs, just over £11,000.

This is one of the highest fines recently imposed by a Court in the UK for fire safety offences that did not involve death or serious injury. East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has a responsibility to keep the public of East Sussex and the City of Brighton & Hove safe within the communities in which they live. This is a responsibility we take very seriously and we will continue to work together closely with both residents and local businesses alike, offering advice, support and practical help on a broad range of issues relating to fire safety within the home and at your place of work.