Former hotelier hit with “biggest ever” fire safety fine

A former hotelier who owned a hotel in Bayswater, London, has been given the “biggest ever” fine for an individual for violating fire safety rules, according to London Fire Brigade. 

Guests’ lives were put at risk according to London fire brigade when a routine inspection at the Radnor Hotel found numerous fire safety breaches including missing fire doors, inadequate fire detection systems, inadequate emergency lighting, no fire risk assessment and evidence the basement storeroom was being used for sleeping.

After a successful prosecution this week, a fine of £200,000 and an order to pay £29,922 in court costs was given to former-owner Salim Patel who pleaded guilty to seven offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Patel was also handed a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, London Fire Brigade said.

Sentencing Judge Kennedy said the public expected “absolute attention” to fire safety when occupying sleeping accommodation in a hotel and that Mr Patel did not provide it. The judge added that, as the business owner, he was where the “buck stopped.”

Neil Orbell, head of fire safety regulation at London Fire Brigade, said: “Our fire safety officers carry out around 16,000 inspections every year to help ensure the capital’s buildings are safe from fire.

“This is the biggest fine we have ever secured against an individual for breaking fire safety laws and it should send a message to all business owners that if they are shirking their fire safety responsibilities and putting the public at risk we won’t hesitate to prosecute.

“The size of the fine should also serve as a stark reminder that the court’s take fire safety just as seriously as we do.”

Patel no longer owns The Radnor Hotel.

Images courtesy of London Fire Brigade