Environmental Health enforcement and prosecution policy
Introduction
This document sets out the enforcement and prosecution policy for Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and Swale Borough Councils.
It must be read in conjunction with any corporate enforcement policy in place at the relevant Council for the individual case. Documents are based on the principles of:
- proportionality
- accountability
- consistency
- transparency
- targeting of enforcement action
Both documents are based on the principles of:
- proportionality
- consistency
- transparency
- targeting of enforcement action
All decisions to prosecute will be taken in accordance with the “Code for Crown Prosecutors”, and this policy recognises the central and local government concordat on good enforcement (Enforcement Concordat).
To improve consistency of enforcement standards, the following will be carried out:
- ensure that all officers are aware of this and the corporate enforcement policy;
- ensure that all officers have adequate training in the relevant aspects of enforcement;
- officers to have regard to national and local guidance and co-ordination arrangements including:
- statutory codes of practice
- Health and Safety Executive guidance
- Department for Business Innovation & Skill, including the statutory code of practice for regulators
- an appropriate British Standard, for example BS 4142, BS 5228, BS 8233
- a commitment to Kent wide auditing of practices and procedures
Purpose and methods of enforcement
The purpose of enforcement is to secure compliance with legal requirements.
The Food and Safety team(s) is responsible for the enforcement of the following functions :
- food safety and hygiene
- imported food
- Health and Safety at work
- smokefree and public health functions
- infectious disease control
- animal welfare (if applicable)
The Environmental Protection team(s) are responsible for the enforcement of a number of functions including preventative consultations and reactive functions:
- statutory nuisance
- air quality
- noise
- environmental permitting
- private water supplies
- Water Industries Act 1991
- anti social behaviour (where enforced by Mid Kent Environmental Health Service)
- statutory consultee for Planning and Licensing service
There are a wide variety of enforcement actions available within these areas of responsibility;
- advice and guidance
- written warning
- statutory notices
- seizure
- refusal/revocation of approval
- Fixed Penalty Notice
- simple caution
- prosecution
- works in default
- injunction
Advice/education
For minor breaches of the law, verbal advice will be given, including a deadline for compliance. Continued non-compliance will result in escalation through the stepped approach in the policy. When advice about ‘good practice’ is given, team members will clearly distinguish between this and legal requirements.
Warning letter
For significant breaches of the law, a warning letter/report will be sent to the appropriate person/organisation. Within the letter, legal requirements and recommendations will be clearly distinguished. Where the recipient of a letter disagrees with any requirement, there is a “right of appeal” to the relevant Team Leader. A reasonable date for compliance will also be stated. Failure to comply with legal requirements could result in a statutory notice being served or more severe enforcement action being taken (for example prosecution, withdrawal of licence).
Statutory notice
Continued non-compliance may be dealt with by more formal means of securing compliance such as food hygiene, health and safety and environmental protection matters. Notices are available to deal with food hygiene, health and safety and environmental protection contraventions.
Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notices (food) or Prohibition Notices (health and safety) require contravening activities to cease immediately, and may close all or part of a premise. These are used where there is a serious and imminent risk to safety or health.
Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notices (food) must be confirmed by a Magistrates Court within 3 days of service.
Hygiene Improvement Notices (food) or Improvement Notices (health and safety) are served to correct specific contraventions of the legislation, and specify a compliance date. In both cases, the Notice must state what provision is being contravened, and what ‘works’ are necessary in order to comply with it.
Failure to comply with a Notice is an offence and may result in prosecution (see 2.12 below).
Environmental Protection notices are served for contraventions of appropriate legislation. An appeal may be made up to 21 days following service of notice.
As above, failure to comply with such a notice is an offence, for which a prosecution may result subject to processes identified in paragraph 4.3 and 4.4.
Notices will be served in circumstances where there are serious contraventions, or where there has been a continuing failure to comply with legal requirements. The appeal period for each notice is referred to in the notice itself or the accompanying letter.
Seizure
Certain legislation enables authorised officers to seize goods or equipment. This would include unsafe food or dangerous pieces of work equipment, noise generating equipment and so on. Receipts will be issued to the person from whom the goods are seized. Where the law requires, seized goods will be taken before a Magistrate.
Refusal / revocation of approval
For the approval to be refused or revoked, one or more of the following criteria must be met:
- failure to comply with legal requirements
- have ignored written warnings or statutory notices
- are producing unsafe food products likely to harm human health
- obstructed an officer undertaking their duties
Certain food business manufacturing or handling high risk food products require approval to allow these foods to be sold.
Fixed penalty notices
These can only be used in respect of certain legislation for example the Health Act 2006 or the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, for example where an individual is smoking within an enclosed workplace or public place, or “no smoking” signage is not displayed.
Simple caution
Used in cases where a prosecution could be brought but there are significant mitigating factors. For a simple caution to be issued there must be:-
- sufficient evidence that an offence has been committed, and
- the offender must admit the offence, and agree to be cautioned
Prosecution
The decision to prosecute is outlined in paragraph 4. A prosecution will normally be brought where an individual / organisation meets one or more of the following criteria:
- deliberately or persistently breaching legal requirements, likely to cause significant material loss or harm to others
- have ignored written warnings or statutory notices
- endangered, to a significant degree, the health, safety or wellbeing of people.
- assaulted or obstructed an officer in the course of their duties
Works in default
Under certain legislation there are circumstances where the local authority can choose to carry out works in default and recover the cost from the occupier or owner. For example where;
- it is in the public interest to carry out the work
- there has been a failure to carry out work required by a statutory notice
- immediate action is required
Injunction
Used in where behaviour is likely to cause serious harm to victims and communities. Or where an individual has engaged or threatens to engage in conduct likely to cause nuisance or annoyance.
General principles
Each case is unique and will be considered on its own merits, in-line with this Enforcement Policy.
Enforcement officers must be fair and objective. Individual views about issues such as ethnic or national origin, sex, religious beliefs, political views or sexual orientation of any suspect, victim, or witness must not influence decisions.
During enforcement investigations, individuals / organisations will be kept informed of progress. This will include notifying them as soon as possible of any enforcement action, unless this would impede an investigation.
In every investigation officers will follow the requirements of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, and associated legislation, statutory guidance and Codes.
Both the Evidence Test and the Public Interest Test in the Code for Crown Prosecutors will be considered to determine whether a prosecution or simple caution is viable and appropriate. Mid Kent Legal Services will advise on the appropriate action in line with processes in paragraph 4.
Commercial organisations may enter into a partnership with a local authority relating to food hygiene and / or health and safety matters. Before service of notice, simple caution, or prosecution, officers must check whether a Home (food), Lead (health and safety), or Primary Authority partnership exists. Where the arrangement is in operation, the officer must contact the local authority to discuss the issues and proposed action, unless the action is taken in an emergency or because of imminent risk. Account must be taken of the views of the Home, Lead or Primary Authority, and the Team Leader must be informed.
Where a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice (food) or Prohibition Notice (health and safety) is served, it may not have been possible or appropriate to have consulted with the Home, Lead, or Primary Authority, due to the urgent nature of the matters involved. However, the Home, Lead, or Primary Authority must be contacted as soon as possible.
The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills statutory Code of Practice for Regulators has been considered when writing this Policy.
Deciding on enforcement action to be taken
For less serious infringements the case officer will decide upon the most appropriate course of action. This will include enforcement action up to and including the service notices.
The case officer’s decision will be based upon professional judgement, legal guidelines, statutory codes of practice, guidance. Advice and confirmation can be obtained from colleagues and the Team Leader.
For more serious enforcement action consultation with the Team Leader must be obtained. This would include service of Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notices (food), Prohibition Notices (health and safety), refusal / revocation of licences / approvals. Where the Team Leader is unavailable, the Environmental Health Manager or other senior manager will be consulted.
In the case of service of Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notices (food) and Prohibition Notice (health and safety), agreement of the Food and Safety Team Leader or other senior manager may not be possible where there is an imminent and serious risk to safety or health. Officers will inform them as soon as practicable.
For simple caution and prosecution sign off for the case file by the Head of Service will be required.
In the case of a work related death, the case officer must inform and liaise with Kent Police in accordance with the protocol ‘Work Related Deaths: A protocol for liaison’. This may result in a joint investigation. Where Kent Police/Crown Prosecution Service decides not to pursue a manslaughter case, consideration will be given to a health and safety prosecution, in-line with this policy.
Authorisation of officers
Only officers who are competent by training, qualification and/or experience will be authorised to take enforcement action. A list of authorisations and delegated responsibility is held by each Team Leader and reviewed through the appraisal process. Officers will also have sufficient training and understanding of this enforcement policy to ensure a consistent approach to their duties. Officers are required to show their authorisations on demand.
Officers dealing with the public will identify which service area they represent.
Review of policy
This policy will be reviewed bi-annually or when changes in legislation or guidance make this necessary.
Date of issue: April 2016.