Prohibition and improvement notices are subject to the right of appeal. In each case, contravention is an offence and is one of the few offences under appropriate Acts which have penalties of imprisonment in addition to or instead of a fine. Being issued with any of the above notices is not in itself, an offence. However, non-compliance with a notice will become an offence. Prosecution In some cases, the inspector may consider that it is also necessary to initiate a prosecution for failing to comply with fire safety law. There are two categories of offence in which a business may be faced with prosecution. Summary offences: A summary offence is a criminal offence that is tried summarily, in other words, in front of a magistrate. Indictable offence: An indictable offence is a serious criminal offence that requires trial by jury in a Crown Court. Note that the above inspection and enforcement powers apply to the UK and may differ in other parts of the world. Refer to specific national, federal, or state legislation for details in any specific country.
©SHEilds – All rights reserved FC V7 JUN 2021
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