By David Young-
A Leeds kebab shop handed a zero star food hygiene rating faces future potential “future criminal proceedings”.
Shai Nan Kebab on Roundhay Road in Harehills was given the lowest rating possible, amounting to urgent necessary improvement before instant closure.
It was told “urgent improvement” was necessary for the management of food safety after appalling levels of hygienic food handling and cleanliness were found by investigators. Condition of facilities and building required such a major improvement that its failings were potentially criminal in mature.
The details of the findings were withheld from the public to the public because in this case, despite a Freedom Of Information Request made.
The official reason given was that the information was being stored privately for “evidence gathering” and potential “future criminal proceedings”
The findings are of serious ramifications for the business.
The council’s FOI team stated: “I can confirm that Leeds City Council holds the information you have requested for the latest food hygiene report for Shai Nan Kebab.
“However, the photographs can’t be released as they were taken as part of evidence gathering and may be used in future criminal proceedings along with the associated inspection report.”
For further explanation as to the nature of the potential criminal proceedings, the city council was asked for a statement. The council spoke of “non-compliance with legal requirements” but wouldn’t divulge any more information regarding the case, other than to say it had been supporting the business.
A council spokesperson said: “All food businesses in Leeds are regularly inspected by Environmental Health Officers on a risk-basis to check their compliance with legislation all food businesses must follow and which are designed to protect food safety and public health.
“To protect public health it is vital that food businesses are kept clean, in good repair, have all the necessary facilities, and have effective food management practices in place.
“An initial inspection was carried out at Shai Nan Kebab on September 6, 2022, which identified areas of non-compliance with legal requirements and immediate improvements that were required to be undertaken by the food business operator.