Services we provide

Health and Safety Consultancy Health & Safety Compliance Documentation Health & Safety Audits Food Safety Consultancy HACCP & Food Safety Management Systems Food Safety Audit: Manufacturing/Catering Food Labelling Compliance PPDS Regulations (Allergen Compliance) Start Up Advice Mock Food Hygiene Inspections Food Hygiene Rating Predictions Local Authority and HSE Liaison

Enforcement Liaison and Legal Assistance

How can we help?

We are experts in Enforcement Liaison in both Food Safety and Health and Safety.

Furthermore, we are quick to respond to your challenges and we will work with you to resolve matters to the most appropriate conclusion.

It is important to act swiftly:

This is because new sentencing guidelines issued in February 2016 have increased the consequences of getting it wrong as there is now NO maximum fine for offences tried in Magistrates Court.

The Legislation:

The Health and Safety at Work 1974 and the Food Safety Act 1990 are both overarching Legislation and provide a framework for the Regulations and Codes of Practice< that sit beneath this framework.

How can we help?

Firstly, as we are Chartered EHP’s we hold the same knowledge, experience and qualifications as Enforcement EHO’s, so we are well placed to discuss the challenges you face in terms of any informal letter or enforcement notice.

All Enforcement Officers must follow the Local Authority Enforcement ‘Code of Practice’, and this has a ‘staged approach’ to enforcement and must take account of the background to the alleged offence.

As practicing EHP’s we have the knowledge and experience to recognise the intentions of the EHO and whether they are likely to progress a case and /or what actions will resolve the matter swiftly.

Legal Document Reviews:

Reviewing any documentation issued by the Local Authority or HSE and assessing the content for a pragmatic solution.

Reviewing the alleged offence in statutory notices, or informal letters and assessing its proportionality and presenting any facts that support your case.

Liaison:

Liaising with the Enforcement Officer and presenting findings to close the case, or to seek a staged and practical measures to satisfy the Enforcement Officer and negotiate time scales for appropriate solution if an offence has in fact been committed.

AND

Meeting Enforcement Officers to assist in the process of communication for an overall better outcome.

Defence:

If an offence has not been committed, - assisting with any solicitor involvement in presenting the facts of the case, presenting associated reports to demonstrate that the enforcement Officers actions were unfounded or not proportion or had not followed the Enforcement Code of Practice.

Assessing any Food Hygiene Rating Score issued by the Local Authority and presenting an Appeal as appropriate.