Barber fined by Central Bedfordshire Council for lockdown breaches

A barber has been fined after his business in Dunstable was found to be operating behind closed doors during the first national lockdown.

Faroq Khosnam, trading as Turkish Barber, Church Street, appeared before Luton Magistrates’ Court earlier this week following an investigation by Central Bedfordshire Council's trading standards team.

Trading standards officers advised him a number of times at the beginning of the first lockdown after receiving reports his business was flouting restrictions imposed by the Government.

Bedfordshire Police then discovered the business was operating as normal during June 2020, with customers entering via a rear door.

Khosnam pleaded guilty to contravening the business closure requirements of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020.

He was fined £166 and ordered to pay a further £1,334 in costs and victim surcharge.

Central Bedfordshire Council's executive member for community services, cllr Ian Dalgarno, said: “It is important that everyone, individuals and businesses alike, do their bit to help prevent the risk of spreading coronavirus.

"Opening a business when it was required to be closed was irresponsible.

“If businesses do not follow the restrictions placed on them during the pandemic, our public protection team will investigate the matter and not hesitate to take further action if the business refuses to engage with us and follow our advice.”