Worcestershire County Council

The Authority used a computerised database system for recording all food law enforcement activity and for compiling monitoring returns to the Agency. Arrangements were in place to ensure that the database was backed up regularly. Access to the database system was password protected to prevent corruption of data in relation to the entry and deletion of premises.

The Authority�s food premises database did not appear to include all the food premises in the County.

It appeared that the database system was capable of providing all of the information required by the monitoring returns. However, incorrect coding and problems with data entry had resulted in inaccuracies within the returns. In particular, these appeared to have resulted in under reporting of written warnings, prosecutions and revisits.

The Authority had not kept sufficient historical records to be able to confirm that food premises had, in the past been appropriately risk rated. However, the Authority had recently adopted the new LACORS risk rating system for food and feeding stuffs premises.

The Authority did not have documented procedures in place to internally monitor the information held on the database and validate the monitoring returns. The Authority had not systematically checked or validated data entered on the monitoring returns prior to their submission to the Agency.