Closure of premises
22.—(1) Where a person is convicted of an offence against the food hygiene regulations and the offence includes the carrying on of a food business at any insanitary premises or at any premises the condition, situation, or construction of which is such that food is exposed to the risk of contamination, if the court is satisfied that—
(a)the premises continue or are likely to continue to be used for the purposes of a food business; and
(b)the condition, situation or construction of the premises continues or is likely to continue to be such that the carrying on of a food business at those premises would be dangerous to health,
the court may, on the application of a district council and subject to paragraph (2), make an order prohibiting the use of those premises for the purposes of a food business and specifying the measures which the court considers necessary to comply with the food hygiene regulations; and the order shall continue in effect until the district council certifies under paragraph (4) that the specified measures have been carried out.
(2) A closure order shall not be made unless the district council has, not less than fourteen days before the hearing of the application, given notice in writing of its intention to apply for such an order to—
(a)the person accused of the offence; and
(b)the owner of the premises (unless the district council is unable after reasonable inquiry to ascertain his identity), if he is not the person accused of the offence.
(3) In any notice in writing under paragraph (2) the district council shall specify the measures which, in its opinion, should be taken to remove any danger to health.
(4) Any person who wishes to carry on a food business at any premises with respect to which a closure order is in force may apply to the district council which, if satisfied that the measures specified by the court have been carried out, shall issue to the applicant a certificate to that effect within fourteen days.
(5) A person who contravenes a closure order shall be guilty of an offence.