Food crime has been defined by the Food Standards Agency as serious fraud and related criminality in food supply chains. It also includes activity impacting on drink and animal feed.  As food crime can be seriously harmful to consumers, food businesses...

Andrew Fennell, a builder, undertook work on an extension at a Stourbridge property that was so substandard that it had to be demolished and rebuilt. He was sentenced at Dudley Magistrates’ Court following a prosecution by Dudley Council’s...

Greene King Retail Limited, the operator of a Dudley pub, has been fined £8,000 following an inspection by Environmental Health Officers at the Bramford Arms in October 2019.  During the inspection evidence of mice was found at the premises. ...

Birmingham City Council’s Environmental Health department conducted an inspection at Ocean Blue Fish Bar, Erdington, Birmingham, on 7 January 2021. They discovered a number of food hygiene breaches at the property including the presence of rat...

The Health and Safety Executive has confirmed that it is undertaking spot checks and inspections on all types of businesses in all areas to ensure they are COVID-secure and to check that the measures in place comply with government guidance. HSE is also...

NCF Carpets, a Sandwell carpet and furniture store, has been served with a Fixed Penalty Notice in the sum of £4,000 for failing to comply with Covid-19 requirements. It allowed people into its store in Cape Hill, Smethwick and has now been...

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has provided detailed guidance for specific workplace settings. Employers are required to ensure that a risk assessment is prepared for their business which considers the risks arising from...

The Plough Inn in Nottinghamshire has been found to be in breach of the current Covid restrictions. They were found to have allowed customers to drink and watch television with a member of staff. The police fined the owners £1000 and seven members of...

Prosecuted for six breaches of hygiene regulations, a meat cutting plant were found to have failed to apply ID marks to poultry carcasses, re-used cardboard boxes and processed over temperature meat.  The company previously had multiple warnings...

On 5 October 2020, the Health and Safety Executive began a targeted inspection initiative to check compliance with health standards across the construction sector. The inspections began on Monday 5 October 2020 and will last for one month. This is the...

A new restaurant in Orpington, Bromley has been closed after staff and consumers allegedly breached COVID 19 security guidelines on repeated occasions. The Greek Meze, on Orpington High Street, was required to close by Bromley Council after complainants...

Local authorities in Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull have issued further guidance to hospitality venues to ensure that they take all possible steps to keep customers safe when they visit these premises. The statement has been issued after a dramatic...

Trading Standards have investigated 35 offending businesses and sent them warning letters concerning advertising without permission using Birmingham’s street furniture. Such furniture includes, benches, lampposts and bus stops.  The crackdown...

Since the pubs reopened on 4 July 2020 , there have been numerous complaints to councils about social distancing and COVID control issues . Between 4 July 2020 and 1 August 2020, local authority officers visited 28 pubs across Derby following complaints...

On 24 July, face coverings became compulsory in shops unless you are medically excused. As a result, the demand for face masks has increased. Legislation requires that face masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus must be safe and have instructions in...

In March 2019, a public protection officer from Pembrokeshire County Council visited JT3 Restaurant in Fishguard. The officer found the basement kitchen to be in a poor state of cleanliness and repair. There were no disinfecting cleaning products or soap...

On 23 June, the Prime Minister announced that from the 4 July, restaurants would be able to begin reopening their doors to customers, 3 months after they were ordered to close.  It is now essential that restaurants reopen in a safe and controlled...

The Health and Safety Executive has set out guidance on its website intended to assist employers make their workplace as safe as reasonably practicable. The emphasis is on identifying and managing the risk associated with re-starting and operating businesses...

As businesses reopen, the Health and Safety Executive (“HSE”) has issued guidance about the risks associated with legionnaires’ disease in buildings that were closed or had reduced occupancy during the lockdown period.  The issue can...

Almost every aspect of any business that requires compliance with legal duties will fall under a regulatory framework and be enforced by regulatory agencies.  The enforcement of Health and Safety is the remit of the Health and Safety Executive; or...