London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Fulham 1960

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Fulham Borough]

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RODENT CONTROL The following is a summary of the work carried out by the Rodent Operatives during the year: -

Type of PropertyTotal
Local AuthorityDuel ling HousesBusiness & Industrial Premises
1. No. of complaints received-557112669
2 No. of properties inspected-8282341,062
3. No. of properties found to be infested by rats: Major----
Minor-33649385
4. No. of properties found to be infested by mice-21648264
5. No. of properties treated: (a) rats-33649385
(b) mice-21648264
6 No. of notices served under Section 4: (a) Treatment----
(b) Structural works, i.e. proofing----
No. of notices served under the Public Health (London) Act 1936----
7. No. of visits made by Rodent Operatives-6, 1727256,897

The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949 places responsibility
upon the occupier of land or premises to notify the Local Authority of
the presence of rats or mice on those premises.
The Local Authority is empowered, through its officers, to
inspect and prescribe the necessary treatments and, if necessary, to
order structural work to rid the premises of rodents and to prevent
reinfestation. In addition to the investigation of notifications of
the presence of rodents, premises are inspected periodically for the
purpose of discovering infestations and to supervise the carrying out
of proper treatment.
The Council provides a free baiting treatment for private dwellings
but charges for treatments carried out to business premises. A staff
of three trained rodent operatives is employed under the supervision
of a Senior Public Health Inspector.
Since 1946, for Rodent Control purposes, the Metropolitan Area
has been divided into four Areas. Fulham is in No. 4 Area, together
with the Boroughs of Hammersmith, Chelsea, Kensington. Westminster,
Paddington. St. Pancras, St Marylebone and Hampstead. A Committee
composed of officers in charge of rodent control from each of these
Authorities meets twice a year to discuss new methods of treatment and
problems of rodent control. Fulham has again been honoured this year