Enforcement of County Council Premises by County Council FRS

[shaunmckeever]

I recall being involved in a prosecution for a breach of a number of fire safety offences for a particular organisation. Whilst at the crown court I wandered around and observed some similar offences at the crown court. When I brought this to the attention of the Court staff I was more or less told to mind my own business. I think this is double standards, someone being prosecuted for a number of fire safety breaches whilst the court themselves are making the same offences and doing nothing about it.

[Chris Houston]

When a court is deciding the guilt of a person, it is acting on behalf of the public.  It should not be unable to prosecute someone simply because the building that the procedure takes place is badly managed.  It does make the situation somewhat ironic, but it's not really relevant to the legal process.

[Martin Burford]

shaun
I suspect in that instance the Court as you put was/is Crown Property... with the usual level of immunity.
Conqueror

[John Webb]

The courts were under the Lord Chancellor's Department and they had an ex-FB gentleman as their fire officer. With the recent abolition of the Lord Chancellor, I am not certain exactly who is responsible now for the courts. Their fire safety problems are manifold:
Many are listed/heritage buildings.
There must be control of exits to prevent prisoners making a dash for it.
The circulation areas for prisoners, witnesses, jury members, judges and the public all have to be separate from each other particularly in the courtrooms.

[kurnal]

The points made by Chris and John are entirely valid- One would hope that the prosecution was the last resort only undertaken following a serious incident,  where negligence led to life being placed in danger or  other enforcement procedures had run their course without success. But  heritage buildings/ security controls should lead to an enhanced level of safety awareness- not be used, as they are, as an excuse for poor standards.

I go with Shaun on this- the reality is that there is far too much "do as I say not as I do" when it comes to H&S enforcement. I say again the worst offenders are in my experience the Crown followed by some of the local authorities own premises and even a number of fire authority HQs.