West Midlands cockroach-infested restaurant shut down

An Indian restaurant in Birmingham which is infested with cockroaches has been shut down.

Birmingham Magistrates Court was told Channi’s Indian Restaurant on Stratford Road, Springfield posed an ‘imminent risk of injury to health’ as a result of the infestation.

Birmingham City Council was granted a hygiene emergency prohibition order at the hearing on Thursday (July 16) following an inspection two days earlier.

Environmental health officer Simon Garrison said they had responded to a complaint when they visited the restaurant on July 14.

Cockroaches, both live and dead, were found in a number of spots in the premises including the kitchen area, close to containers of food, on walls and on shelving.

Officers also found evidence of cockroach poo and egg sacks which could see between 30 and 40 of the insects hatch.

An Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice was slapped on the premises with conditions requiring the owners to take action to address the issues.

Mr Garrison said: “Cockroaches carry diseases such as e-coli and salmonella and they contaminate surfaces they come into contact with. There is an imminent risk to public health.

“There is ongoing treatment. Part of the notice comes with a schedule of works and given conditions they have to meet in order to reopen.

“Cockroaches don’t just disappear after a day’s cleaning.”

Michelle Brown, prosecuting on behalf of Birmingham City Council, said the premises remained closed at the moment.

Magistrates granted the emergency hygiene prohibition order which prevents them reopening until all the risks discovered are eliminated.