Prosecutions

Prosecutions

The Food Team gives details of prosecution cases which resulted in a successful conviction last year.

The team has taken steps to ensure cases subject to appeal are not published. Cases involving the prosecution of individuals or business will appear on the site for a period of one year and then be removed to archives.

Food Hygiene breaches at Red Lion Public House, 48 Parliament Street, London: 7th March 2007
On the 7 March 2007 at Westminster Magistrates Court, Horseferry Road, Spirit Group Limited, the food business operator of Red Lion Public House was convicted of several breaches of food hygiene regulations. This prosecution followed on from an Emergency Prohibition Notice being served on the premises on the 31 January 2006. The company pleaded guilty to 3 breaches of hygiene offences. They were fined £4000 for one offence and £3000 for the two other offences and also ordered to pay costs in excess of £1,616.47, culminating in costs of £11,616.47 in total.

Prosecution of persistent high risk business - Mawar, 175A Edgware Road: 25th July 2007
On the 25th July 2007 at the City of Westminster Magistrates Court, the food business operator of Mawar, was convicted of seven breaches of the food hygiene regulations. The operator was fined £7700 and was ordered to pay costs of £2500. On an inspection on the 14th June 2006 officers from the food team found the premises in an extremely dirty condition and in very poor repair. They found that there was no hot water at the sinks and wash basins, that staff were not washing their hands and had poor food safety knowledge, and also that food was being stored at temperatures that would allow bacterial growth.

Mice infestation at grocers shop, 520 Harrow Road: 20th November 2007
At Westminster Magistrates Court Horseferry Road on 20th November 2007, Mr Mohammed Amnsor pleaded guilty to three offences under food safety legislation relating to an infestation of mice in the grocers shop at 520 Harrow Road. Food Officers found the premises infested with mice when they inspected on 4th January 2007 and used a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice to close the premises. Inadequate procedures were in place to control pests, food was exposed to the risk of contamination and the premises was not kept clean. The Magistrates gave credit for the early guilty plea and took into account Mr Amnsor's financial circumstances. He was fined £200 for each of 3 offences making a total of £600 and full costs of £950 were awarded to the City Council.

Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice – Meya Meya Ltd, 13 Bell Street, London: 21st February 2007
Following the closure of Meya Meya Ltd at 13 Bell Street due to serious mouse infestation the food officers presented evidence to the Magistrates at Westminster Magistrates Court, Horseferry Road on 21 February 2007. The Magistrates agreed that the conditions at the premises were an imminent risk to health and issued a declaration to that effect. The full costs of £1,905.25 were awarded to the City Council.

Prosecution of Chuen Cheng Ku, 17 Wardour Street, London: 18th May 2007
On the 18th May 2007 at Southwark Crown Court, Gentin Limited the food business operator of Chuen Cheng Ku was convicted of several breaches of food hygiene regulations. This followed an inspection of the food premises from a food poisoning complaint received by the food team on the 21st December 2005. Gentin had pleaded guilty to 5 breaches of hygiene offences earlier in Horseferry Road Magistrates Court. Gentin Limited were ordered to pay £2000, while the two directors of the company Mr. Peter Au and Mr. Peter Chu were ordered to pay £10,000 and £8,000 respectively.