A MAN has been prosecuted for allowing smoking indoors at a shisha lounge.

Blackburn with Darwen Council took Mohammed Suleman, who had been running Silver Cloud in Regent Street, to court.

He was found guilty by Blackburn magistrates of contravening the smoking ban in an enclosed public space and given a two-year conditional discharge, as well as a £15 victim surcharge.

The prosecution came just a month after Blackburn with Darwen Council announced a crackdown on shisha and illegal smoking indoors in the borough.

Council bosses have also written to the Government asking for a shisha licensing system to be introduced to increase their powers.

The court heard council and police officers visited the premises on February 1, 2013, and found people smoking shisha pipes inside enclosed areas of the building.

The premises did not have planning consent for use as a shisha lounge and has since closed following an enforcement notice served on the premises by the council.

Tony Watson, head of environment and public protection at the council, said: “The council and the police are continuing to work with shisha businesses to provide advice and support in complying with the law.

“However, where businesses fail to comply with the law, enforcement will continue to be taken. As with other forms of smoking, there is a danger to people’s health from being exposed to smoke from a shisha pipe.”

Blackburn town centre police sergeant Nick Everett said: “Blackburn police work very closely with partner agencies and the number of shisha premises in the area continues to reduce by means of engagement, education and enforcement.”

He said the police and the various agencies who have a vested interest in these premises, remain committed to addressing the issues associated with these premises.”