JJB Sports fined for locked fire escape

Prosecutions and Claims |
10.07.2008

Sports retailer JJB has been fined for serious fire safety breaches at a branch in North London.

London Fire Brigade officers inspecting the JJB store in Friern Bridge Retail Park, N11, in December 2007 discovered fire escapes that were locked or partly blocked by stock, and an empty fire extinguisher.

The store had already been served with an enforcement notice in December 2005.

JJB Sports admitted six breaches of the Fire Safety Order.

In mitigation, the retailer argued that the failings were the result of mismanagement at the store and were not representative of the company generally.

Hendon magistrates fined JJB Sports £17,400 plus £6150 costs. They noted that JJB had since carried out fire safety training, and that senior staff attended the hearing.