The Public Protection services of a council include environmental health, trading standards, pollution control, pest control, weights and measures, building control, advice services, licensing, food safety, health and safety and animal health.
They have agreed to focus on a set of National Priorities for Wales, namely protecting individuals from harm and promoting health improvement, ensuring the safety and quality of the food chain to minimise risk to human and animal health, promoting a fair and just trading environment for citizens and business and improving the local environment to positively influence quality of life and promote sustainability.
Public Protection services are on the front line in protecting the public from many diseases, preventing or responding to outbreaks of Legionella and e-coli for example. Whilst unfortunately some outbreaks occur, much successful preventative work is undertaken daily and often goes unseen and unnoticed.
Animal disease outbreaks, such as foot and mouth, avian influenza and even rabies see regulatory services officers called into action to coordinate and enforce emergency control plans to ensure that animal health and legitimate businesses are protected.
The provision of alcohol licenses, the safety of taxi and private hire vehicles and their drivers, weights and measures accuracy, gambling premises, the monitoring of air quality and contaminated land, all fall within the remit of Regulatory Services – to name but a few.
Criminal matters which require further investigation are referred to the relevant local authority’s trading standards services.
Unregulated, illegal money lending (operated by ‘loan sharks’ who charge between 500% and 11,000,000 % interest on loans) is also an issue of concern and an all-Wales unit has been set up to combat this problem. The unit will also provide appropriate support to victims and communities affected, working with other agencies to provide money advice and financial assistance.
Public Protection Services in Wales - Building for the Future
Continuing to Protect the Public and Support Businesses in the Cost of Living Crisis
The Impacts and Outcomes of Local Trading Standards Services in Wales 2022/23
Environmental Health: Unseen, Essential and Cost Effective
Links:
For more information contact: Simon Wilkinson