freedom of information

[wattsup]

I've contacted 12 councils across the uk over the past 6-months, requesting information regards prosecution of electricians, electrical work done by none part p installers. (in residential buildings)

I have had one so far, one prosecution for ' a potential dangerous installation of electrics to garden shed'
no further details, except the work done was not installed by a 'qualified electrician'.

I must admit most councils have said this information is not monitored, therfore we cannot give stats.

 

[dufjax]

I've contacted 12 councils across the uk over the past 6-months, requesting information regards prosecution of electricians, electrical work done by none part p installers. (in residential buildings)

I have had one so far, one prosecution for ' a potential dangerous installation of electrics to garden shed'
no further details, except the work done was not installed by a 'qualified electrician'.

I must admit most councils have said this information is not monitored, therfore we cannot give stats.

That's interesting reading, but I'm not surprised about the councils that don't monitor



Jim

 

[acat]

I bet it will be the same sort of response for failing to notify.



Chris

 

[stef]

Hi wattsup,

problem is that councils aren't aware what's going on behind closed doors. I know lots of people who think they know and can so they do all their electrical work themselves. It is too easy and not controlled at all. You can go to any DIY shop or online retailer and buy CUs and cables, unmonitored and unchallenged, no matter whether you are electrical qualified or not. And people don't want to spent the money involved in electrical installations. If you just think back how many courses you had to attend, how much time and money you had to invest to become a qualified electrician and then you see
some fat builder (who can push a wheel barrow) who's quoting for the electrics as well. Or the typical DIY daddy from the office who thinks changing a CU is just connecting 24 wires in 45 minutes

 

[bugsy]

A lot of this has been discused under the post public awareness

 

[wattsup]

It cannot be the council/s is unaware, otherwise why make a law that is uninforceible?.
I firmly believe the council/s do not take court action because they have little chance of winning in a court of law against a qualified bona-fide electrician, no matter what part p states. If an electrican is indeed an electrician and can be proven, then the prosecuters have to prove the installation is 'unsafe'. It would have to be a cival case and thus not a criminal offence.

As a footnote, you can rewire your own house, the council/law cannot stop you doing so. This is where the grey area starts. So this is where 'signing off' work begins to crumble, i build my own bathroom extension, i also wire...assuming i abide with building regulations the council have a duty to check standards, if the wiring complies they must sign it off. if they will not because of part p, you can sue. I will assure you they will sign it off (assuming the wiring complies with the present iee standards.