A kebab shop and its director have been fined after cockroach and rat infestations were discovered by inspectors.

Enfield Council’s food safety team found a “huge population” of cockroaches at Ponders End Kebab in High Street during a visit in August 2020.

The insects’ faeces were also found in food storage and preparation areas before a follow-up in March 2021 uncovered rat activity.

Cllr George Savva, cabinet member for licensing and regulatory services, blasted the “genuinely disgusting” find which posed an “imminent risk to public health”.

Enfield Independent: Cockroaches found at Ponders End Kebab. Picture: Enfield Council.Cockroaches found at Ponders End Kebab. Picture: Enfield Council.

“Their presence was compounded by inadequate cleaning practices with dirt, food debris and cockroach faeces found in food storage and preparation areas,” she said.

"After the business had voluntarily closed to get its house in order, we subsequently found a rat infestation on site, which highlighted the business’s inability to control pests and we decided it was in the public’s interest to prosecute.”

The shop's director Kazim Recber, of Town Road in Edmonton, pleaded guilty to 15 offences at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on December 9.

The 42-year-old and the kebab shop’s limited company, EMB Catering, were told to pay a total of £4,241.12 in fines, legal fees and damages.

Enfield Independent: Ponders End Kebab in High Street. Picture: Google Street View.Ponders End Kebab in High Street. Picture: Google Street View.

Cllr Savva added: “Food businesses need to understand that they are obligated to take the necessary measures to protect the public from harm.

“The lapses in food hygiene and pest control were utterly unacceptable and that was reflected in the sentence handed down by the court.”