Environmental health

Smoke free premises and vehicles legislation

For information on how to comply visit www.smokefreengland.gov.uk, freephone 0800 169 1697 or City of London 020 7332 3630 or email contact.centre@cityoflondon.gov.uk.

To complain about smoking in a smoke free place or premises: telephone the National Compliance Helpline 0800 587 1667 or City of London 020 7332 3630 or email contact.centre@cityoflondon.gov.uk.

Want to quit? Freephone 0800 169 1943 or visit www.rsq.org.uk/.

The mission statement of the City’s Environmental Health Service is:

"To provide a comprehensive and effective environmental health service for the City of London, ensuring that, through monitoring, regulation and enforcement, City residents and businesses can enjoy an environment and services which are, so far as possible, safe and without risks to their health or welfare"

The Environmental Health Service is one of six service divisions of the Department of Environmental Services, and provides a comprehensive environmental health service to the City of London - “The Square Mile” – the world’s leading financial centre.

The Service may be contacted by telephone, fax, email or in person.

Telephone +44 (0)20 7332 3630
Fax +44 (0)20 7332 1623
Email DES-Enquiries@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Contacting the Out-of-Hours Duty Officer

The Service’s Out-of-Hours Duty Officer is also contactable outside normal working hours via Guildhall Security.

Out of hours +44 (0)20 7606 3030

The wide range of activities undertaken by the Environmental Health Service fall into three broad categories: Food; Health and Safety (including Pest Control); and Environmental Pollution Control. The Service also undertakes Meat Inspection and associated duties at London Central Markets (Smithfield) on behalf of the Meat Hygiene Service an executive arm of the Food Standards Agency.

Service Targets

Each year the Environmental Health Service produces its Service Targets.

These targets are in support of both the City of London’s Vision and its Sustainable Community Strategy 2008-2014, and national initiatives and campaigns by organisations such as the Food Standards Agency and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

Enforcement Policy

The City of London is a signatory to the Government's Enforcement Concordat and all enforcement decisions are taken with reference to both this and to our own Regulatory Services’ Enforcement Policy which covers all regulatory services carried out by the Department of Environmental Services.

Download a copy of the Enforcement Policy (125kb)

This policy has recently been augmented by a specific Accident Investigation Policy which details how we decide upon which health & safety accidents notified to us we follow through to a full on-site investigation.

Download a copy of the Accident Investigation Policy (56kb)

Enforcement powers

Our officers have a range of powers from various Acts of Parliament delegated to them by the City of London.

If you would like to know the extent of the enforcement powers that our officers have and what may happen when an officer visits your home or place of work or contacts your business, then we have set the details out in a simple Frequently Asked Questions leaflet.

We always appreciate feedback on the variety of information and guidance we provide and our “When An Environmental Health Officer Calls ... - Frequently Asked Questions” leaflet is no exception so after you’ve downloaded a copy below, please let us know your views on its content, user-friendliness and over all how it helped you.

Download a copy of our When An Environmental Health Officer Calls ... leaflet (34kb)

Feedback

As well as these key issues above we are always keen to hear people’s view on the Environmental Health Service and welcome any comments you may have on your dealings with us, on what you thing we should be focusing on, etc. and again all comments can be sent to us by email or in writing to :

Mr Philip K Thompson
Environmental Health Service Director
City of London
PO Box 270, Guildhall
London, EC2 P 2EJ.

Environmental health training

To develop a career in Environmental Health you need to undertake an accredited course that is recognised by the Environmental Health Officers Registration Board, together with a 48 week work experience placement. Local authorities may run appropriate courses and offer placements to students.

Food safety - risk assessment

Risk assessments are a legal requirement for all food businesses. The local authority require a risk assessment to be carried out prior to registration of a food business.

Pest control

The service is provided for pests considered to be a risk to public health or food safety including rats, house mice, cockroaches and fleas. A service may also be provided to control pests that may become a nuisance in houses such as a wide range of beetles, silverfish, earwigs and wasps.

Public health - cooling tower notification

All premises where cooling towers and evaporative condensers are situated must register with the local authority under The Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations 1992.

Rabies protection

All rabies susceptible animals entering the UK are required to spend six months in quarantine, unless arriving under and complying with all the conditions of the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). The port authority is responsible for ensuring that such animals are taken directly into quarantine on arrival.

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