The owners of two shisha bars have been heavily fined for breaking smoke-free laws after separate investigations and prosecutions by Brent Council.
 |
| [relatedPosts title=”Related Posts”] |
|
|
- Council: Brent Council
- Fine: £500
- Costs: £500
- Total: £1,000
Ahmed Shalal, 25, who owns Diamond Lounge, 170-172 High Street Harlesden, NW10 was convicted on 18 February at Willesden Magistrates Court. The court heard that the council received complaints from the public about his shisha bar, and when officers visited last October they had found people smoking inside.
Shalal was charged with four offences: for allowing smoking in a fully enclosed premise; not having the necessary health warnings on the pipes, and not displaying an ‘under age sale’ sign. He also did not display his company or ownership details.
He did not turn up at court and was fined £500 in his absence for each offence, plus an additional £50 victim surcharge and ordered to pay £500 costs to Brent Council.
His company was also ordered to pay the same amount again, which is a total of £5,100. His staff member Elysayed Abouarab, 32 was also fined £500 for allowing smoking in a smoke-free place plus a £50 victim surcharge and £403 in costs.
In an entirely separate case, Emaad M Altae 34, director of Habaybna, 402 High Road, Wembley, pleaded guilty on 25 February at Willesden Magistrates Court to allowing smoking in a substantially enclosed structure next to his cafe, not having warning signs on pipes or tobacco products and failing to display his business details.
Emaad M Altae and his company were ordered to pay a total of £770 (£125 for each separate offence for him and also his company separately) in fines and £600 in costs. Staff member Ahmed M Al-Anazy, 35, was convicted in absence and must pay £195 in fines and £200 costs. When council officers visited last October they seized shisha pipes and a large amount of shisha tobacco, which will now be destroyed.
The Health Act 2006 and Smoke-free Premises and Enforcement Regulations 2006 stipulate that an area where smoking is taking place must not be substantially enclosed.
