London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Waltham Forest 1969
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Waltham Forest]
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4. Legal Proceedings
(i) Public Health Acts, 1936/61; Clean Air Act, 1956
86 applications were made for legal proceedings to enforce the requirements of notices
served. 18 cases were subsequently heard by the court and abatement orders made. The remaining
68 cases were withdrawn before the court hearing, or after adjournment, the work required by the
notices having been completed.
(ii) Food and Drugs Act, 1955
98 complaints regarding foodstuffs were investigated and reported for consideration of
legal proceedings. A wide variety of food was implicated, i.e. milk, bread, cakes, sausages,
tinned goods, bacon and confectionery. The reason for the complaint was either the presence
of foreign matter or the appearance of mould growth on the food.
(iii) Food Hygiene (General)Regulations, I960 and The Cheese Regulations, 1965
Legal proceedings were authorised in respect of 25 contraventions under Food Hygiene
(General) Regulations, I960 and The Cheese Regulations, 1965.
Analysis of Legal Proceedings
| SEC. ACT/ REG. | NATURE OF OFFENCE | NUMBER OF OFFENCES | FINES IMPOSED £ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | The Food business carried on in insanitary premises | 3 | 55 | |
| 6 | Articles of equipment not kept clean and in good order and condition | 3 | 35 | |
| 8 | Food so placed as to involve risk of contamination | 3 | 15 | |
| 9 | Smoking in a room in which there was open food | 1 | 5 | |
| 14 | Failure to maintain sanitary convenience in a clean and/or efficient condition | 1 | 3 | |
| 14 | Failure to exhibit "wash hands" notice | 1 | 3 | |
| 16 | Failure to provide a wash basin and/or hot and cold water supply and/or hand washing requisites | 2 | 8 | |
| 17 | Failure to provide bandages, dressings and antiseptics for first aid treatment | 2 | 8 | |
| 18 | Failure to provide accommodation for employee's clothing | 1 | 5 | |
| 23 | Walls/floors/ceilings and/or woodwork not maintained in clean condition | 4 | 53 | |
| 24 | Accumulation of refuse in a food room | 1 | 10 | |
| CHEESE REGULATIONS, 1965 | ||||
| 13 | Label 1 ing Offences | 3 | 15 | |
| Total | 25 | 215 | ||
| Total Costs awarded to the Council | 46 | |||