24 Dec 2012
A retailer ended up in court after one of its clothes stores breached fire safety legislation.
Inspectors found a number of fire safety risks when they visited the York branch of Jack Wills Limited in January 2011. The firm was issued with a notification of deficiencies and asked to carry out a series of improvements at the store.
But when inspectors visited the shop again, they found the problems relating to fire safety had not been remedied so a formal enforcement notice was issued.
The officers had found flammable materials were being kept near a single staircase, which was the only way out of the store in the event of a fire. One potential escape route on the first floor had been blocked off and was not clearly signed as an emergency exit.
The inspectors also discovered damage to fire doors at the shop, which would have left them unable to keep a fire back if there was a blaze. According to Minster FM News, retail staff from the store had asked the Jack Wills head office based in London for permission to carry out repairs and improvements.
The company admitted six offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. York magistrates fined the firm a total of £27,000 and ordered it to pay £5,619 in court costs.
Copyright Press Association 2012