Inspectors frequently come across fire exits which are padlocked, CPD director Patrick Murgo has revealed.

Questioned after the Brazilian nightclub inferno which killed 232, he said this was normally an issue of money and security, with the owners reluctant to employ somebody to watch over the doors.

“But it obviously defeats the purpose of having a fire exit.”

The Health and Safety Monitoring Board and the Tourism Authority perform spot checks on entertainment venues. Owners are then told what needs changing. Failure to comply can result in having the operating licence withdrawn.

But the committee is only made up of five members, which limits the number of establishments they can inspect.

Mr Murgo said that more owners also need to train staff to guide others in case of emergency and administer first aid.

Full story in The Times.