The owner of a cafe called Arabian Night Moon Light was found guilty of permitting the smoking of shisha in a smoke-free area at Willesden Magistrates Court on 3 September.
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Mr Tariq Walid Alhamzawy, director of Arabian Night Moon Light Ltd, trading from 224 High Road, Willesden NW10, received fines of £100 and £1000 respectively and was ordered to pay a total of £2,955 in prosecution costs to Brent Council.
During the trial, Magistrates heard evidence that the offence was uncovered on 24 January 2013 when officers from Brent’s consumer and business protection team carried out an inspection at the defendants’ premises and found several customers, including Mr Alhamzawy, smoking shisha pipes in an area of the cafe that was totally enclosed.
The officers informed the court that Mr Alhamzawy had been previously warned that he could be prosecuted for allowing shisha smoking in his cafe but this warning had been ignored.
In court, officers produced photographs of Alhamzawy and another individuals smoking on the premises and promotional materials, including extracts from the company’s website, advertising it as shisha business.
Whilst giving his evidence Mr Alhamzawy claimed that the business was still closed in January and he was only smoking with family members. However, photographs taken by the officers on the day of their inspection showed that the premises were fully lit and open for business.
Brent’s head of consumer and business protection, Bill Bilon said:
“Brent Council’s aim is to protect local people’s health by ensuring they are not exposed to smoke in areas which should be smoke-free. Owners of shisha shops, pubs and clubs that allow smoking on their premises should ensure that they are familiar with the legislation and make the necessary arrangements to comply with the law.
“Officers from the consumer and business protection team routinely make late night visits to commercial premises and anyone caught smoking, as well those who permit smoking, can be served with a fixed penalty notice or prosecuted if we discover that smoke-free regulations have been breached.”
