Southwark Council starts prosecution action under Covid-19 legislation
16 October 2020
Southwark Council seized music equipment, closed down Planet Nollywood’s dance floor and started court proceedings against the business, for its flagrant disregard for the health of everybody in the building.
The council is cracking down on businesses, like Planet Nollywood, that repeatedly ignore advice and instructions from its COVID taskforce. It will not tolerate those who openly flaunt the government’s COVID restrictions and the law, putting the people of Southwark at risk.
Southwark Council officers have been on the ground, day and night, checking on businesses, since full lockdown rules were first relaxed. Working alongside the Police, the council has contacted thousands and visited hundreds of businesses in the borough, making sure that they understand their responsibilities and are abiding by the law.
The council checks that the test and trace system and NHS QR code app are being used, social distancing is being observed, tables are not too close, masks and other PPE are being worn, that the rule of six is being followed and that the 10pm curfew is being respected.
The council works closely with the Police, who have the power to enforce these legal limits, and issue fines of £100, doubling for further breaches, up to a maximum of £3,200.
Council officers visited Planet Nollywood, 319 Camberwell Road, on a number of occasions as part of its weekly COVID operations. However, despite all of the advice and warnings offered by the council, the business continued to operate outside COVID regulations.
This resulted in a joint council and Police raid, on the night of Friday 18 September. They found the majority of staff to be ignorant of COVID regulations and CCTV footage from 12 September and 08 August, which confirmed that the premises had been illegally and dangerously operating as a nightclub.
The council served a Prohibition Notice to close the ground floor, and amplification equipment was subsequently seized. This prevented the premises from operating as a nightclub. Council officers clearly explained current guidelines and restrictions to the owner and the council is taking further prosecution action under current Covid-19 legislation.
Cllr Evelyn Akoto, Cabinet Member Public Health and Community Safety, said: “While we are working with many businesses, and helping them to play their part in keeping people safe, it has become clear that a small minority are repeatedly failing themselves, their staff and their customers.
“Despite all of our warnings, Planet Nollywood continued to flout the rules and ignore officer advice.
“We will meet this, and all such irresponsible and dangerous behaviour, with legal action under Covid-19 and other appropriate legislation.
“With rates of infection rising across London, and nationally, is it vital that we all follow the rules and do the right thing.”
- Southwark businesses can find help here: southwark.gov.uk/businesscovidprevention
Page last updated: 16 October 2020
