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When unsatisfactory reports are received on toys steps are taken to secure their immediate
withdrawal from sale in the Borough and where necessary local publicity is given through a press
release and on one occasion details were broadcast by Radio London. Details are also submitted
to other authorities in order that officers in these authorities responsible for the enforcement of
this enactment may take appropriate action in their own areas.
In some cases it was found that the offending toys had been imported into the country as
early as 1968.
Action was confined to a warning letter with regard to the toy pianos and investigations
into the remaining four offending toys are continuing.
PEST CONTROL
The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949 imposes upon every Local Authority the duty
to take such steps as may be necessary to secure, so far as practicable, that their district is kept
free from rats and mice and in particular (a) from time to time to carry out such inspections as
may be necessary for the purpose, (b) to destroy rats and mice on the land of which they are the
occupier and otherwise to keep such land so far as practicable free from rats and mice, (c) to
enforce the duties of owners/occupiers of land under the provision of the Act.
Owing to the difficulty in recruiting sufficient manual staff to carry out rodent control treatment
it has again been necessary to contract out the work to a commercial operator. The contractor
works in close contact with the Department and submits detailed records of the treatment carried
out. Rodent control on domestic premises is a free service but a charge is made for any work done
on business, commercial or industrial premises. In an area of this type, with so many open spaces,
the location of reservoirs of rodent infestation is extremely difficult and the appointment during
the latter part of the year of a technical assistant for vermin control duties has meant that more
attention can be given to this aspect of the work.
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