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 1971
[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
27 applications were made for legal proceedings to enforce the requirements of notices
served. 7 cases were subsequently heard by the Court and abatement orders made. The remaining
20 cases were withdrawn before the court hearing, or after adjournment, the work required by the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
135 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, 1960
Legal proceedings were authorised in respect of 8 contraventions under Food Hygiene
(General) Regulations, 1970.
Analysis of Legal Proceedings
| SEC.ACT/ REG. | NATURE OF OFFENCE | NUMBER OF OFFENCES | FINES IMPOSED £ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | The food business carried on in insanitary premises | 1 | 5 | |
| 7 | Articles of equipment not kept clean and in good order and condition. | 1 | 5 | |
| 9 | Food so placed as to involve risk of contamination | 1 | 5 | |
| 16 | Failure to maintain sanitary convenience in a clean and/or efficient condition, and failure to exhibit "wash hands" notice | 2 | 10 | |
| 18 | Failure to provide a wash basin and/or hot and cold water supply and/or hand washing requisites | 1 | 5 | |
| 22 | Failure to provide suitable and sufficient means of lighting in a food room | 1 | 5 | |
| 25 | Failure to maintain the walls of a food room so as to prevent the risk of infestation by mice | 1 | 5 | |
| Total | 8 | 40 | ||
| Total Costs awarded to Council | 21.50 | |||