During an inspection of Hallworthy Petrol Filling Station near Camelford in July 2023, officers from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service found the site was no longer selling petrol and the forecourt was being used as a makeshift scrapyard.
When a petrol filling station stops selling or storing petrol, the owners are legally required to make the site safe to reduce the risk of an explosion or environmental contamination.
At the time of the site inspection, officers were unable to ascertain if the premises had been made suitably safe in accordance with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations 2002 or if a suitable assessment of the risks on the premises had been carried out under Article 9 of the Fire Safety Order.
Multiple requests for information were made to registered owners of the business; Jeyapratha Kawasihan, Sobrika Kirupaharan and Yalini Inbaruban. None of the owners responded or provided the required information.
It is an offence for a person without reasonable excuse to comply with any requirements imposed by an inspector under article 27 of the Fire Safety Order.
On March 11, 2025, at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court, Kawasihan, Kirupaharan and Inbaruban were prosecuted for failing to provide information that would assist Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service in their investigations with regard the safety of the petrol tanks, associated equipment and who had control of the premises.
Kirupaharan and Inbaruban, who did not attend the hearing, were found guilty and each were fined £9,000 and ordered to pay £930 in court costs.
Kawasihan, who pleaded guilty to the charge, was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £930 in court costs.
The court ordered that the fines and costs be paid in full within 28 days.
Graham Hughes, protection manager for Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Business owners have a legal responsibility to ensure their premises are safe. These individuals have failed to cooperate and have shown a disregard for the safety of their local community.
“Prosecution is always a last resort but if people fail to comply with regulatory requirements, become obstructive or when a potential serious risk to public safety is identified, we will not hesitate to take action."