CIEH publishes guidance on new anti-social behaviour powers
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)
| Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
The CIEH has published professional guidance on the use of Community Protection Notices (CPNs) under Part 4 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 which comes into force today.
The new notices are aimed at preventing conduct by people or businesses which is having a detrimental effect on the quality of life of people in the locality and which is persistent or continuing and unreasonable. Breaching a notice could land the recipient in court or with a Fixed Penalty Notice.
Unusually, they will be able to be served not only by local authorities, but by the police and others designated by councils too. `Modelled on powers already used extensively by Environmental Health Officers, though` said CIEH Principal Policy Officer Howard Price, `there is a lot of overlap. Other agencies will need to take care not to trip over one-another and our guidance sets out clearly the circumstances when existing powers should continue to be used and when CPNs might come into play.`
`There are strict criteria for issuing CPNs` added Mr Price `and pitfalls our Guidance will help unwary users avoid but agencies intending to use them will need proper training and supervision.`
