Manager fined for allowing smoking inside premises

Abdul Raymond, who runs Arabian Nights in Lincoln Road, was found guilty in his absence at a hearing at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

The venue has a smoking shelter outside, but council officers found people illegally smoking inside on August 7 last year.

Raymond did not attend the hearing at the court.

He was fined £600 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60, and costs of £500.

It is the second time Raymond has been fined following a similar offence three years ago.

In March 2013 he was fined £100 after the smoking shelter was found to breech regulations about how much was enclosed. A council spokesman said the shelter now complies with the regulations.

Deborah Thompson, Environmental Health Officer at Peterborough City Council said: “Smoking is not permitted indoors in public places so that people are protected from the unhealthy effects of second hand smoke. Most businesses in Peterborough have no problems in complying with this requirement.

“We have given Mr Raymond a lot of support since his previous prosecution to help him adopt a legal approach, but clearly he has chosen to ignore the advice. This prosecution sends out a clear message that we will not tolerate smoking indoors and that every business must operate within the law.”