welcome to the network legal event - ‘to enforce of not to enforce’
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Welcome to the Network Legal event - ‘To enforce of not to enforce’. Jennifer Watts Network Legal Expert Setting the scene on enforcement. INTRODUCTIONS. GETTING TO KNOW YOU. Name Local Authority Role Enforcement Policy?? Scenario?? Challenge!. Principles of Enforcement . - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Welcome to the Network Legal event - ‘To enforce of not to
enforce’
Jennifer Watts Network Legal Expert
Setting the scene on enforcement.
INTRODUCTIONS
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
• Name• Local Authority• Role• Enforcement Policy??• Scenario??• Challenge!
Principles of Enforcement • Enforcement Concordat• Introduced in 1998: aim to promote good enforcement that
brings benefits to business, enforcers and consumers• Standards: setting clear standards• Openness: clear and open provision of information• Helpfulness: helping business by advising on and assisting
with compliance• Complaints: having a clear complaints procedure• Proportionality: ensuring that enforcement action is
proportionate to the risks involved• Consistency: ensuring consistent enforcement practice
Enforcement Concordat
‘Ultimately the concordat contributes to theeconomic vitality of our local communities.
With compliance made easier, and withenforcers able to focus their resources on
businesses who break the law allowing law-abidingbusinesses to compete on a
level playing field’
Enforcement Concordat: Good Practice Guide for England and Wales http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file10150.pdf
Principles of Enforcement
• The Philip Hampton Review: commissioned by Chancellor in the 2004 Budget, was influential in promoting enforcement approaches, which include;
• Increased use of risk assessment to precede and inform all regulatory enforcement work
• Increased use of support and advice to help businesses to understand and meet regulatory requirements more easily, and
• Adopting proportionate, targeted and flexible approaches to applying the law and securing compliance.
Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008• Based around firm and fair regulation
• (1)In exercising its functions local authorities in England and Wales effectively enforce,
(b)in a way which does not give rise to unnecessary burdens, and (c)in a way which conforms with the principles in subsection (2).
• (2)Those principles are that— (a)regulatory activities should be carried out in a way which is
transparent, accountable, proportionate and consistent; (b)regulatory activities should be targeted only at cases in which action is needed
Fixed Penalty Notices
The Local Approach – is it broad enough?
• Effective Campaigning? • Education – encourage behaviour change?• Decent Services?• FPN?
Golden Rules for Issuing FPN’s
• Rule 1: Assume every offence for which a FPN is issued will end in Magistrate’s Court
• Rule 2: Where there is insufficient evidence a FPN should not be issued
• NB# Is it likely to be pursued by your LA?????
Golden Rules for Prosecution• Evidence is of key importance when it comes to
enforcement. Proceedings should NOT be commenced unless the enforcement officer believes that there is a realistic prospect of success if the matter were to be defended at trial.
• It is essential that there is the mind-set and approach that assumes that every prosecution will be rigorously defended.
Code for Crown Prosecutors
• Casework decisions: taken fairly, impartially and with integrity help to secure justice for victims, witnesses, defendants and the public.
• Prosecutors must be fair, independent and objective. • Must not let any personal views about the ethnic or national
origin, gender, disability, age, religion or belief, political views, sexual orientation, or gender identity of the suspect, victim or any witness influence your decisions.
• Neither must prosecutors be affected by improper or undue pressure from any source.
• Prosecutors must always act in the interests of justice and not solely for the purpose of obtaining a conviction.
Code for Crown Prosecutors
The Full Code Test: two stages;
1) The Evidential Stage: satisfied there is “sufficient evidence” to provide a “realistic prospect of conviction”. A case which does not pass the evidential stage must not proceed, no matter how serious or sensitive it may
2) The Public Interest Stage – In every case where there is sufficient evidence to justify a prosecution, prosecutors must go on to consider whether a prosecution is required in the public interest. Consider seriousness, level of culpability, harm caused to victim, age of suspect, community impact, is prosecution a proportionate response
Code for Crown Prosecutors• Out-of-Court Disposals: may take the place of a prosecution if
it is an appropriate response
• Appropriate evidential standard for the specific out-of-court disposal is met including: a clear admission of guilt and that the public interest would be properly served by such a disposal
• Examples: simple or conditional caution, any appropriate regulatory proceedings, a punitive or civil penalty
http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/docs/code2013english_v2.pdf
Keep Britain Tidy Enforcement AcademyLaunch a new training concept;
• Promote best practice in enforcement• Accredited learning programme• Join a bank of Enforcement Academy graduates
available for hire by land managers • Three Stage Approach - Education, Engagement
Enforcement• Traditional classroom sessions, practical training and
assessment
Keep Britain Tidy Enforcement AcademyBenefits;
• Enforcement Officers gain an accredited qualification• Common standard/process to tackle enforcement
issues • Income generation (hire out qualified officers to other
organisations)• Low risk recruitment process for organisations that do
not currently employ enforcement officers (i.e. short term projects - no annual salaries etc.)
• QUESTIONNAIRE / ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION!
Network Event
Enjoy!
Effective Enforcement
Kenny Wilks
Background
Residents’ concerns – Results of surveys
Local Environmental Quality – Measure of cleanliness
Education and advice – Well informed officers
Collaborative working – Joined up consistent services
Environmental legislation – Dealing with ASB
• Enforcement Strategy• Enforcement Concordat• Costs v Cleanliness• Educate, Encourage
then Enforce• Members Support• Service Effectiveness
Tackling Litter
• Highly visible patrols• Offence directly observed• Patrols based on intelligence/routine• Always show/wear full ID and authority• Always caution offenders• Only issue fixed penalty notices to young
people with parental/carer guidance
Islington Approach
Out on the streets• Verification of details (Islington Electoral
Role)• Close PCSO and Police collaboration• Automated and manual FPNs• Provision of appeal procedure• On line payment option• Full IT administrative support -
Contender• Legal services support
Legislation
Environmental Protection Act 1990• Duty of care etc. as respects waste - Section 34• Receptacles for commercial or industrial waste –
Section 47• Littering - Section 87• Litter clearing notices – Section 92
CNEA 2005• Dog Control Orders x 3
Enforcement Journey
FPN ISSUEDPAID WITHIN
10 DAYS£50.00
PAID AFTER 10 DAYS£80.00
APPEAL RECIEVED
REVIEWED WITHIN10 DAYS
NO PAYMENT/APPEAL
NOTICE OF INTENDED
PROSECUTION(BY 28 DAYS)
CASE FILE PREPARED
(BY 45 DAYS)
In Practice 1. Educat
e2. Encourage
3. Enforce
Penalty Notices issuedCommercial Duty of Care 146Commercial Receptacle 880Dog Exclusion 73Dog Fouling 36Dog Lead 1Domestic Receptacle 14Flyposting 2Grafitti 1Litter Control 2Littering 4920Waste Carrier 1Waste Dumping 863
6939
Issues to Consider• Consistency amongst staff• Conflict resolution• Appeal procedure or not?• Payment rates – what to do when not
paid• Back office/legal – resources• Identification of offenders • Media interest
Colin Batchelor
Environmental Health ManagerBraintree District Council
Keep Britain Tidy Events September 2013
‘To enforce or not to enforce!’
Braintree District• 3 Market Towns –
Braintree, Witham, Halstead
• 61 Parishes• Population: 148,000 &
rising rapidly
Braintree District• Is the largest geographical district in Essex – 61,171ha.• Is bounded by 7 districts and 2 other Counties• Contains 20 miles of A12 and A120, both strategic trunk
routes• In close proximity to Stansted Airport• Contains 3200 listed buildings
Braintree District• Is one of the Portas pilot town centre schemes• Hosts an international puppet festival• Is home to Freeport Factory Shopping village • Is home to the prettiest village in Essex –
Finchingfield.
Braintree District• Was home to the
Courtauld silk and clothing empire
• Is home to Crittall windows
• Home of Olly Murs & Matt Cardle
Braintree District Council
• Council Tax Band D £1455.84 of which only £161.19 is BDC element
• BDC collects £8.7m in Council tax.
Braintree District Council
• Has assets of £80m• Has an annual budget of £15.5m (and
reducing)
Environmental Health
• Comprises– Food, H&S and
Licensing Team– Housing & Pollution
Team – Engineering
Housing & Pollution Team
• 1 Manager• 2.6 EHO’s• 2 EPO/Enforcement Officers• 2 Dog Wardens• 2 Street Wardens• 2 Pest Control Officers• 1.4 Admin
“What a great district – let me in!”
Cllr Graham ButlandLeader of Braintree District
Council
So should you enforce?
Ask yourself some questions
• What are you trying to achieve?
– Improved environment– Making your mark– Setting an example– Raising income– Specific targets– Changing behaviour– Decrease in number of littering/fly tipping complaints
Ask yourself some questions
• Do you have the resource?– Staff– Legal
• Do you have Member backing/support?– Cabinet member support essential
• Do you have sound policy and procedures for taking legal action?
• What else are you doing?
The Braintree Experience
The Green Heart of Essex
• Set up concept, governance and structure • Two year project with aim to be the
Cleanest & Greenest Council in Essex– Ulterior motive?
• Budget of £250,000 in first year• Launched in June 2010 with lots of
publicity inc. ‘I’m a Councillor get me out of here!’
Monitoring
How do you know how successful you have been if you don’t know where you started?• NI 195 ? Latest equivalentWhen you have done something monitor it, report it and shout about it!
Cleaner
• Extended cleaning hours to deal with the night time economy
• Rapid Response Team - litter dealt with promptly• A barrow beat operative in each of the town centres –
delighted residents, hundreds of compliments• Increased cleaning on strategic routes – improving
image perception• More bins installed – enabling the customer easy access• Deep cleansing – hot washing• Regular weed spraying and removal
Branding
• Vehicle fleet, uniforms, street furniture e.g. litter bins carry Green Heart brand
• Web-site dedicated GreenHeartofEssex – over 30,000 visitors
• Over 500 Green Heart of Essex press mentions
• Social networks – Facebook over 500
regulars– Twitter nearly 2,000
Campaigning
Campaigning
Campaigning
Campaigning
Involving• Communities
– Volunteers , community groups & partners• Schools
– 62 signed up to be Green Champions• Neighbouring authorities
– Co-ordinated litter picking on highways• Businesses
– esp. Galleys Corner (McDonalds & KFC)– Other business initiatives.
Involving• Public engagement - get them on your
side and reporting• See it – Report it!• Stamp out Poo – Tell us who!• Report the Tosser!
• Communities– Volunteers , community groups & partners– Police– Greenfield Housing Association
Actions with McDonalds
• Develop littering report sheet• Extended use to KFC
Actions with McDonalds
• Registration numbers on receipts
Actions with McDonalds• Education /
enforcement
Actions with McDonalds
• Use their publicity opportunities
• Get their staff reporting littering
• Make use of company CCTV
So what do we do?
• Witness/Receive reports of littering• Send letter with questions under caution• Consider response – FPN/NFA • Reminder letters • Failure to pay FPN consider legal action• Pursue case if at all possible• Also pursue s33, s46, s79, s92A, s215,
Road side stop checks
Enforcement 2012/13
• 130 FPNs issued• 112 paid• 12 Cancelled• 6 prosecuted
Cost Benefit
• £7885 FPNs raised (but this is not the reason for issue)
• £2836 Legal fees cost to us• £1196 Costs recovered through the Courts
Benefits
• Much improved environment• Improved satisfaction, place survey results• Clear message to the public• Eagerness of others to report• Awareness of public – who’s watching you?• Enhanced reputation• Regional example of good practice
Risks
• Awarding of costs by the Court• Decisions of Magistrates and Judges• Support of the public – Use PR team• Relationship with legal team• Follow up of FPNs• Local press coverage
Conclusion
• Enforcement is only part of a bigger picture
• Get Member & HOS support• Engage PR and legal teams• Follow up on FPNs• Promote your story with local press• Apply the Nike factor –JUST DO IT!
Thank you for listening/ staying awake/patiently
waiting for lunch !
Lunch and networking
Round Table Discussion
Thank you
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