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present four wheeled type of stall should be retained to carry a separate purpose-made unit
incorporating the requirements of the Regulations. Where washing facilities are required these
would form one section of the stall; provision also would be made for refuse sacks to be hung at
one end of the vehicle. One difficulty is the desire of traders to serve from the rear of the stall,
whereas the proposals under consideration might only permit service from the front. This matter is
at present only in the preliminary stages of discussion but seems to be the most realistic of the many
proposals which have been examined. If it proves to be a viable proposition, it might be the forerunner
of a "model" stall universally acceptable by all concerned and one which will meet all
current requirements.
Unauthorised Street Traders
In the 1967 Annual Report on the health of Westminster reference was made to the unsatisfactory
situation then prevailing in regard to unauthorised street traders. The standard of hygiene found on
most "hot dog" and itinerant ice cream vendors' stalls and vans continues to give no grounds to
believe that the situation has improved.
In the Report it was mentioned that the public ought not to be exposed to the health risks which
can arise from this form of street trading, and so that the Council could exercise a more positive and
effective control over these traders it would be helpful if the Minister concerned would consider
implementing the powers contained in Section 21 of the Food and Drugs Act 1955 for the licensing
by the City Council of all food stalls. This would in effect place the onus on the trader to inform
the City Council of his proposals before commencing trading, and furthermore ensure that vehicles
and equipment meet statutory requirements before coming into use. It would appear however, that
the Government Department responsible do not favour a system of licensing of mobile food traders,
as they take the view that the Regulations already in force are sufficient to ensure a satisfactory
standard of hygiene.
Of 24 cases for which summonses were authorised during the year, 12 were not served (one was
for a joint offence, one summons was not served, and the other adjourned sine die), six have yet to
be heard, and six were successfully concluded.
Experience points to the Courts being more ready to deal severely with these itinerants if, in
addition to the usual charges of absence of proper facilities, it is possible to prove unhygienic
practices, but for this purpose it is frequently necessary to keep the trader under observation for a
long period to obtain the necessary evidence, even for as much as a continuous period of 24 hours.
The majority of the traders operate from bases outside Westminster and when the inspectors
follow them in an effort to establish the address of the premises from which they operate, they
sometimes find that no such premises in fact exist, the stalls being left in vans over-night and brought
back to the West End the following night without the utensils or equipment having been properly
cleaned.
The many other duties devolving on the small number of inspectors in the Food Control Group,
and the difficulties encountered in obtaining the required evidence, mean that the number of cases
of the kind described which can be taken is limited, and the officers concerned can do no more than
deal with as many of these traders as the pressure of other duties permits. Unfortunately, where one
stallholder discontinues trading, either for personal reasons or following a successful prosecution
by this Department, invariably another steps into his place, and so the cycle starts again.
If the general public were more discriminating in their patronage of stalls, perhaps the more
undesirable elements would cease to trade through lack of custom, though the fact would still
remain that these itinerant traders are unlicensed to trade in foodstuffs, or any commodity for that
matter. Perhaps if even only in a few cases the full penalties permitted by the Regulations were
imposed the whole scene might dramatically change.
Apart from other considerations in relation to the failure of the stalls and vehicles to meet the
requirements of the Regulations, the greatest difficulty with street traders is to get them to equip
their stalls with suitable sinks and wash hand basins conveniently accessible. It has been found
that on the closed-in four wheel trolley type "hot dog" stall the hot water is obtained from a half
size biscuit tin placed over a calor gas burner at the base of one of the end compartments, with a
plastic bowl as a wash hand basin. The trader has virtually to get down on his knees to obtain
water and after prolonged observations it is found that in practice the facilities, even if they exist,
are not used. The wash-hand basin should be sited at or near the counter or working surface level,
and connected to a waste tank to ensure the proper discharge of waste water.