Local authorities

Local authority environmental health departments have also suffered from the decade of cuts and have also seen inspector numbers fall. Meanwhile, the Chartered Institute for Environmental Health (CIEH) has warned that environmental health practitioners (EHPs) in England “are hamstrung in addressing those businesses that are failing to comply with COVID-secure requirements” and need more powers.

It said EHPs in England need more immediate powers to deal with businesses that are failing to follow the rules. At present, they must show “a serious and imminent threat to public health”, formally seek advice from the Director of Public Health, and then notify the secretary of state.

In Wales, local authorities can serve premises improvement notices or close premises that do not take reasonable measures to minimise exposure to COVID-19. The “plethora of hoops” EHPs in England have to jump through means they are “attempting to do their job with one arm tied behind their backs”, said CIEH Wales director Kate Thompson.