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66
Rodent Control.
Special report by the Senior Sanitary Inspector (Mr. B. J.
Ashcroft).
Statutory Powers and Duties of the Local Authority.
The statutory powers of the local authority in regard to rodent
control are derived from the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act,
1949, which came into operation on 31st March, 1950, on which date
the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, was repealed. The
powers and duties of local authorities are to be found in Part I of
the Act.
The important difference between the 1919 Act and the new
Act is that Borough and District Councils are now local authorities
for the purposes of the Act and not the County Councils as formerly.
The duty of the local authority is threefold: (1) to inspect
the area in order to ascertain the degree of infestation by rats and
mice, (2) to destroy rats and mice on land of which they are the
occupiers and (3) to ensure, if necessary by legal proceedings, that
owners and occupiers of land are taking all practicable steps for the
destruction of rats and mice. In furtherance of their duty under (3)
the local authority may serve a notice upon the owner or occupier of
land requiring him within such reasonable time as may be specified
in the notice to take steps for the destruction of rats and mice on the
land. If such a notice is not complied with the local authority may
themselves take the necessary action and recover the cost from the
owner or occupier concerned.
Where rats and mice are found in substantial number on any
land comprising premises in the occupation of different persons the
local authority, instead of serving notice on the owners or occupiers
as outlined above, may themselves enter upon the land and take such
measures as may be necessary for the destruction of rats and mice
thereon. This is a valuable provision which enables the local
authority to deal effectively with a block of property. The expenses
incurred by the local authority may be recovered from the several
occupiers of the land concerned. It should be noted that land for
this purpose includes any building or part of a building.
Duty of Owners and Occupiers.
The primary duty of destroying rats and mice on premises is
placed upon the owner or occupier of those premises. The local
authority is therefore only responsible for the actual destruction of
rats and mice on land of which they are themselves the occupiers.