Since the coronavirus pandemic began, Barking and Dagenham Council have made it clear that they won’t stand for any residents or businesses breaking the rules and nearly a year on, that is still the case.

 

Last week (11 to 18 January), council enforcement officers visited over 1800 businesses in the borough to check they were following the coronavirus rules, this included checking in on over 600 non-essential shops to make sure they were closed, which they were.

 

Of the businesses visited that were open and were allowed to be open, 209 were still non-compliant with the guidelines and the enforcement team engaged with them, providing advice to 173 and proper signage to eight.

 

During their rounds, enforcement officers also discovered four businesses openly trading, when they should have been closed for business. These businesses were handed prohibition notices and further action will be taken if they continue to operate. 

 

Councillor Margaret Mullane, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “We know it is tough for non-essential businesses during this time, but I must ask them to please continue following the rules – it is to keep us all safe.

 

“Once again, I would like to say a huge thank you to all the businesses who have been cooperating with us throughout the pandemic, as well as the enforcement officers who continue to work extremely hard during these frustrating and hard times .”

 

If a resident knows of a business breaking the rules, they can report them online.