News
Health & Safety Update (November 2009)
Bogus FSA Inspectors Targeting London Businesses for
'Fines'
A spate of bogus Food Safety Inspectors have been targeting
London business, inspecting their premises and fraudulently
demanding on-the-spot fines.
The Food Standards Agency is warning those who run cafes and
restaurants in Hackney to be on the alert for fraudsters who claim
they are from the FSA.
One restaurant in Hackney has already fallen foul of people who
faked their identities as Food Standards Inspectors. The restaurant
did not discover its error until after the owner had paid a 'fine'.
Several other restaurants received fake 'fixed penalties' but then
took the step of contacting the authorities where it was confirmed
they were not genuine.
The fraudsters are claiming to be carrying out inspections. They
then extract substantial amounts of money from proprietors in the
form of a fixed penalty fee for finding the premises
unhygienic.
The FSA does not carry out food inspections or hand out
fines for breaches of food safety.
All food inspections in the borough of Hackney are carried out
by authorised Hackney Council Environmental Health Inspectors who
will carry Council ID whenever they visit a food business. Although
the Council can issue fixed-penalty notices for offences of waste
disposal or smoking in the workplace, no inspector will demand an
on-the-spot payment and they do not handle money.
If your food business is visited by anyone claiming to be from
the FSA, it's important to remember not to part with any money. The
first thing to do is contact the police.