Tower Hamlets Pest Control News:
Mice close Tower Hamlets eating premises by paulg on 07/05/2012 |
Health inspectors for Tower Hamlets council recently found a mouse happily munching away on dropped food in the kitchen of eating premises in Tower Hamlets, during a routine inspection. They managed to photograph the rodent just before it jumped and scampered along a draining pipe in the kitchen and out through a hole in the wall of the restaurant. But there were more shocks in store for them as they continued. Under a pile of unused table cloths and carpet in a store room, they also found cockroaches. Mice droppings were found all over the kitchen including inside the fridges, on crockery, in sauce containers and on a chopping board next to some meat. The hygiene was so bad that the ventilation hood above the ovens was not working and was dripping with grease. The restaurant was promptly shut down. Photographs taken at the time of inspection also show cockroaches living in broken fridge seals. Pretty much the whole kitchen was covered in grease and grime, with cracked tiles and stained walls everywhere. The owner was arrested and charged with 7 counts of breaching food hygiene regulations and 3 health and safety laws. Environmental officers from the council said the conditions were disgraceful and branded the premises an appalling risk to the safety of customers. They said "Amazingly and thankfully, there have been no reports or evidence of any actual illness being suffered by customers." The premises have since reopened after a forced closure and a refurbishment and are now being closely monitored by the council. The owner was given a four month jail term suspended for 2 years. He was also ordered to pay fines totalling £10,000 plus £4,124 costs. The judge said if he had not pleaded guilty he would have gone to prison immediately. He will have his licence to cater taken away from him for good if these conditions are found associated with any of his businesses in the future. |