After Census night enumerators revisited all accommodation to collect completed forms. This included a check that forms were completed correctly and that all persons had been entered. Where necessary enumerators helped residents to complete forms. Cases of refusal were referred to the Census Officer, who made a follow up visit, which generally resulted in co-operation. Where this was not forthcoming, legal action was pursued, with a total of around 330 people ultimately convicted for failing to complete a census form.
In the case of "absent households" who failed to return in the immediate collection period, enumerators left reply paid absent return forms for completion and posting on return.
The final task of the enumerator was to make a detailed check of completed forms. Additionally a random sample of forms was checked by the Assistant Census Officer. The reliance on self-complete forms meant it was inevitable that many returns would contain items of missing information. In cases where this exceeded agreed acceptance criteria, enumerators returned to collect further information.