Mohammed Faiz Azim admitted charge in connection to VIP Shisha Lounge in Kingsbury Road

A Kingsbury shisha bar owner who allowed customers to break the no smoking ban has been fined a total of �515.

Mohammed Faiz Azim admitted failing to prevent smoking in a smoke-free area at VIP Shisha Lounge in Kingsbury Road.

Willesden Magistrates’ Court heard customers at the 26-year-old’s shop were able to smoke in a canvas structure at the front which breached the smoke-free regulations.

Brent Council enforcement officers discovered the infringement during a routine visit to the shop.

The canvas structure was not constructed in accordance with the strict legal requirements on smoking in premises where the public have access.

Enforcement officers had issued Azim with warnings about the canvas structure on previous visits.

During one visit a worker was given a fixed penalty fine of �50 for smoking on the premises.

Azim was fined �200, ordered to pay �300 prosecution costs and a �15 surcharge fee earlier this week.

Bill Bilon, Brent Council’s Head of Consumer and Business Protection said: “Owners of shisha shops, pubs and clubs that allow smoking on their premises should ensure that they are familiar with the legislation and make the necessary arrangements to ensure that they are complying with the law.

“Officers from the Consumer and Business Protection team routinely make late night visits to commercial premises and anyone caught smoking, as well those who permit smoking, may be served with fixed penalty notices and prosecuted if we discover that the smoke-free regulations have been breached.”