Diseases Prevention (Metropolis) Act 1883

The Diseases Prevention (Metropolis) Act 1883 was an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom designed to improve sanitation and prevent the spread of infectious diseases in London. It conferred powers on sanitary authorities within the Metropolis, primarily aimed at addressing nuisances that contributed to disease outbreaks.

The Act empowered authorities to inspect premises, abate nuisances, and enforce sanitary regulations. These nuisances included overcrowded dwellings, accumulations of filth, defective drains, and other conditions considered detrimental to public health. Sanitary authorities could serve notices requiring property owners or occupiers to remedy such conditions, and if compliance was not forthcoming, they could undertake the necessary works themselves and recover the costs.

The Act was one in a series of public health measures enacted in the 19th century, reflecting a growing awareness of the link between environmental factors and disease. It represented a step towards a more proactive approach to public health, shifting from reactive measures to prevent disease from spreading after it had already occurred, to attempting to preempt its emergence by addressing underlying sanitary issues. While focusing on London, the Act served as a precedent for similar legislation and influenced public health policy throughout the country.