From the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, the number one priority for Barking and Dagenham Council has been to keep residents as safe as possible and, unfortunately that has meant taking enforcement action against some individuals and businesses. 



Since the start of the first lockdown in March last year, council enforcement officers have been on the frontline working with and providing advice to businesses to ensure that they were following the rules set by the government.



In fact, officers provided 6,086 bits of advice to local businesses from informing them that they should have been closed as they weren’t an essential shop, provided information around social distancing and face coverings and providing signage to display.



Unfortunately, some businesses failed to take on the advice and continued to break government guidance, so officers had to take out enforcement action, which included issuing:



•    21 Fixed Penalty Notices 

•    47 Prohibition Notices

•    10 Direction Orders for businesses to close for a set amount of time



The police also issued three £10,000 fines to businesses through the joint work with the council.



Councillor Margaret Mullane, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “This has been an extremely hard time for everyone, and we’ve all played such a massive part in getting through the pandemic.



“Unfortunately, some people and businesses have broken the rules and our enforcement teams have had to take action. They have been on the front line and done an incredible job, so I would just like to say a massive thank you for keeping us all safe.”



A range of businesses were forced to close down and these included Barking Fish, on Station Parade, Barking, local supermarket Magazin Traditional Romanesc of 49 Street, Barking, shisha bar Byblos Garden also in Barking and Dagenham supermarket, Ilford Food Centre on Green Lane.