Berkhamsted Takeaway Closed for Food Hygiene Offences
On 13 February 2019 at St Albans Magistrates Council, Mr Ased Ashfaq, food business operator of Flamingo’s Grill, Gossoms End, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 1DF, was found guilty of 21 food hygiene offences.
The prosecution was taken by Dacorum Borough Council due to a failure of the business to act on advice from the council’s environmental health officers. The premises was voluntarily closed on 30 January 2018 due to poor hygienic conditions and an infestation of rats. After improvements the business was permitted to re-open.
However following a revisit on 22 February 2018 to ensure that conditions had been maintained, officers found that conditions had deteriorated to the extent that the business needed to be formally closed as it presented a health risk condition. St Albans Magistrates agreed with the action taken by the council officers and imposed a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order.
Mr Ashfaq was found guilty of 21 food hygiene offences receiving a total fine of £15,750, with costs of £9,281.25 and victim surcharge of £75.00, the total amount payable to the court was £25,106.25, this took into account Mr Ashfaq’s guilty plea otherwise the fine would have been greater.
The failure of the business to act after the voluntary closure to maintain standards, and the food business operator’s disregard for public safety gave the council little alternative but to take formal action.
Cllr Neil Harden, Portfolio Holder for Community and Regulatory Services said: ‘For the protection of the public we had to take legal action; this conviction will send out an important message to anyone who thinks it’s acceptable to take shortcuts, when it comes to food hygiene.
‘Our officers are happy to offer guidance to businesses to ensure no such issues arise, so I would advise operators to make use of that free advice as we won’t hesitate to take action when we consider it necessary.’
The council’s environmental health team is employed to check that food businesses in Dacorum comply with food law requirements and are authorised to take action where they find non-compliance.
Residents can find out more about food safety by visiting www.dacorum.gov.uk/foodsafety.