27/11/2009 - New Look punished over shop blaze
High Street chain New Look has been hit with a record £400,000 fine for a string of safety breaches discovered after a fire in their Oxford Street store.
Southwark Crown Court heard the shop had been packed with people when smoke from the second floor triggered the fire alarm, which was mysteriously turned off. Customers were allowed to continue shopping even after the alarm went off a second time, only being ordered out when passers-by shouted warnings into the store.
Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC was also told that staff had received insufficient training and that the shop had inadequate emergency exits.
By the time people began streaming through the front door, smoke was billowing from the building and windows were being blown out.
Saying the incident could have been a "disaster almost too awful to contemplate", the Judge fined New Look £400,000 and ordered the company to pay £136,000 in costs.
A New Look spokesman said: "The incident in 2007 was an unfortunate and concerning time for us all, and as a responsible business we immediately initiated a comprehensive review of our health and safety procedures.
"New Look has never been deemed negligent in any way for the fire, but the business has fully taken on board the recommendations presented at the inquiry and will continue to strengthen its company guidelines and working practices to ensure full compliance."
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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