In his regular “Weighing up the Law” legal column for the Fire Protection Association magazine, Sailesh Mehta examines the impact of the “Independent Cultural Review of the London Fire Brigade [LFB]” which was published in November 2022.
He comments that this is a “wake up call” for all fire services and they ignore the Nazir Afzal Report at their peril. He states that many fire and rescue services can consider themselves lucky not to have had their internal problems investigated and broadcast in the same way as the LFB’s.
Additionally, in the first of a series of case studies, Sailesh also interviews Colin Todd MBE (an expert in fire safety, fire risk assessment and fire safety legislation) about the role expert witnesses play in fire prosecutions. Both discuss the St Michael’s Hospice fire in St. Leonards, East Sussex where three residents died within 24 hours of arson by another hospice resident.
Sailesh Mehta specialises in fire law and has advised fire brigades across the country on aspects of law and policy, and prosecutes and defends, particularly in fatality cases. He leads the Red Lion Chambers’ Fire Law Team who offer expert, business focused, robust advice and advocacy. The Team represents corporations, company directors, UK fire and rescue authorities, as well as public and investigatory bodies. Learn more: [Red Lion Chambers introduces Specialist Fire Law Team]
Read column here: [pp52-53_Legal_crop]