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In the past it has been suggested to me that such a
large number of visits as is shown in the foregoing table
can only be achieved by failing to give proper care and
attention to the inspections involved. I feel therefore
that an analysis of these visits would be worth while. The
table shows that 1,934 visits were "no access" visits i.e.
visits to premises to which access could not be gained, and
a further 1,055 were Shops Act visits outside normal office
hours. This leaves 18,024 effective visits or inspections
during normal office hours of which 17,409 were made by the
five inspectors who have districts. The average for each
inspector is therefore 3,482.
Assuming there are 229 full working days in a year
(i.e. 52 x 5-day weeks, less 24 days holiday and 7 days
sickness) this gives an average of just more than 15 visits
or inspections per man per day. Some of these e.g. re visits
to ascertain whether dustbins have been supplied or minor
repairs carried out take very little time and in other cases
inspections under two or three different Acts may be carried
out on the same premises. For statistical purposes these
must be recorded under each of the separate Acts for which
an inspection is made. Furthermore as all inspectors have
"essential user" car allowances very little time is wasted
on travelling. It can be seen therefore that ample time
is given to all visits and inspections. If more time were
devoted to each visit it follows that less frequent visits
would result, and from a public health point of view it is
far more valuable to have frequent inspections of moderate
duration rather than less frequent inspections of longer
duration. The fact that an inspector is likely to call
at frequent intervals is, in itself, an incentive to the
maintenance of satisfactory standards. The old military
maxim "What is not inspected, deteriorates" is very apt.
Complaints.
During the year 1,141 complaints were received as compared
with 1,055 last year. The increase is accounted for
by considerably more complaints about defective dustbins
and rats and mice. There was however a significant decrease
of 96 complaints about insanitary or dilapidated houses.
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