Bookmakers fined for leaving staff at risk
Published Friday 3rd September 10 in Council - news and information releases news
Failing to protect staff from violent robberies and assaults in two Southend betting shops has led to a national chain of bookmakers making a £18,170 payout.
At Southend Magistrates Court on Friday 23rd July, Coral Racing Ltd admitted a serious breach of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974.
The company was fined £12,000, ordered to pay £6,170 costs.
Relief shop manager Martin Walker was attacked with a Samurai sword during a robbery at the Coral bookmakers in Woodgrange Drive Southend on Thursday18th December 2008, prompting an investigation by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Health and Safety Officers.
Mr Walker, who suffered serious facial injuries, had been drafted in to work there because regular staff members were on sick leave following a robbery at the same store two days earlier.
Just ten days later, on Sunday 28th December 2008 another armed robbery took place at a Coral betting shop in London Road.
During each incident, staff members were exposed to significant risk of violence, and assailants gained easy access behind the counter to threaten staff with bladed weapons.
Council Officers discovered that the cash desks did not adequately protect staff, other control measures were ineffective, and the firm had failed to carry out risk assessments for violence in the workplace.