Enforcement in County Durham
William the Conqueror ordained that "All weights and measures should be duly certified just exactly as the good predecessors have appointed and that weight and measure shall be true and stamped in all parts of the country as had been before ordained by law".
From the seventeenth century, the Court of Quarter sessions had been charged with putting right abuses of weights and measures.
In 1839 a County Constabulary was established in County Durham and the Chief Constable was given the responsibility for the supervision of weights and measures enforcement.
Durham County Council was formed in 1889, the supervision of weights and measures remaining with the Chief Constable.
In November 1890, the County Council’s Weights and Measures Committee reported that the Board of Trade had recommended that Weights and Measures in County Durham should no longer be the responsibility of the Chief Constable. A resolution was taken that duties under both the Weights and Measures Act and the Adulteration of Food and Drugs Act be taken from the Police and to place these duties in the hands of officers specially appointed for the purpose.
The new service began on 1 January 1891. Over the years the geographical area of County Durham has varied, the most recent changes being in 1974 and 1996.
On local government re-organisation in 1974, parts of County Durham in the Houghton le Spring, Hetton le Hole, Easington Lane, Jarrow, Hebburn, Washington, Blaydon, Dunston and Greenside areas were transferred to the new Tyne and Wear Authority. At the same time, Darlington Borough and a small area of North Yorkshire along the River Tees became part of County Durham.
In 1996, Darlington Borough left County Durham and became an individual unitary authority.
Over the years the list of legislation enforced by the Department, now known as Personnel and Consumer Services, has grown hugely.
