Households that have failed to fill in and return the 2011 census in England and Wales may be getting a house call from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Census collectors from the ONS will be going door-to-door to over seven million residences to personally request that the ‘dodgers’ complete their census forms as soon as possible.Already the ONS has recruited an army of 29,000 to perform the collection rounds.
Only three-quarters of English and Welsh residences have completed the census, but London has been the worst offender with only 60 percent completed. The ONS said it had anticipated a low completion rate in the capital, and has assigned 6,000 collectors to the city alone.
Collectors are set to start work today at 2 pm and will continue their rounds until they reach a satisfactory completion rate.
Those who avoid the compulsory census completion can face up to £1000 fine, although the ONS said they only plan to enforce the fine on habitual offenders.
Glen Watson, the 2011 census director, said he was, “pleased that nearly three-quarters of the forms have come back just nine days after Census Day” but the most comprehensive statistics come from having the most samples.
Those with concerns can contact the census helpline on 0300 0201101 in England or the Welsh helpline on 0300 0201130.
