Lambeth
Thursday 1 May 2003
24-26 and 30 September 2002
Whilst the Authority was strong in providing advice to businesses and in carrying out promotional activity, the audit highlighted a number of key organisational and operational deficiencies in the delivery of the food law enforcement service. Minimum inspection frequencies for both food hygiene and food standards were not being achieved with a high number of higher risk food hygiene inspections overdue at the time of the audit.
The scope and depth of food standards inspections were limited and routine food standards sampling was not being undertaken. Officers were not appropriately authorised for their full range of enforcement duties and there was little internal monitoring to ensure that the Authority was achieving an effective level of service.
There were problems with the food hygiene and the food standards databases and with the Authority’s file and database records that prevented a full assessment of the Authority’s performance in some areas of the Standard. However, a new computer database system was due to be installed shortly.
The findings of this audit reflect many of the findings of an inter-authority audit carried out in June 2000.
The Authority's strengths
Food hygiene advice to business and food hygiene promotional work - Comprehensive and clear advice was being provided to businesses which included trade specific leaflets produced in-house to help businesses comply with food legislation. Projects on hazard analysis and food hygiene training, community based work during food safety week and infection control advice and follow-up visits and reports to schools on infection control were also being undertaken.
Key areas for improvement
Inspections - The Authority was not carrying out food standards and food hygiene inspections in accordance with the minimum frequencies set out in Food Safety Act Codes of Practice No: 8 and No: 9. There was a significant backlog of inspections including higher risk food hygiene inspections and the scope and depth of food standards inspections was very limited.
The minimum frequencies determined by the Codes of Practice risk rating schemes are devised to ensure that enforcement authorities are regularly monitoring food safety and standards in businesses and to enable timely interventions to be made where necessary. It was, however, recognised that action was being taken to address the backlog of food hygiene inspections.
Authorisation of Officers - The scheme of delegation was unclear as to the authorisation for the licensing of butchers shop premises and officers were not authorised for the full range of food enforcement work carried out.
Database - The 2 databases used for food hygiene and food standards were not consistent with each other and there was no procedure in place to ensure that the food standards database was kept fully up to date. It was recognised that the Authority was intending to transfer to a new single combined database.
Records - The Authority’s file and database records were incomplete, missing or inconsistent across many areas of the Standard. Such records are important to ensure that the history of premises is available to determine the appropriate enforcement action for subsequent inspections.
Internal Monitoring - There was no systematic approach to internal monitoring and limited monitoring was being undertaken of food hygiene and food standards work.
Food Standards Sampling - There was neither a food standards sampling programme nor a procedure and very limited food standards sampling was being undertaken.
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