The aim of the environmental services team at Salford City Council is to protect and promote a fair, safe and healthy environment for the benefit of the whole community, business and resident alike.
The council's regulatory functions are extensive, dealing with matters such as abandoned vehicles, animal health and welfare, occupational health and safety, pollution control, drainage, public health nuisances, food safety/hygiene and compositional standards, disease control, consumer safety, fair trading, and weights and measures.
This page summarises the general principles which the council will follow in relation to enforcement and prosecution.
The council believes in firm but fair regulations. Underlying this are the principles of proportionality in the application of the law and in securing compliance, consistency of approach, transparency in how the council operates and what those who are regulated can expect from us and targeting of enforcement action.
The enforcement action taken by the council will be proportionate to the risks posed and the seriousness of the breach. As far as the law allows, we will take into account the circumstances of the case and the attitude of the individual when considering what action to take.
We aim to carry out our duties in a fair, equitable and consistent manner. Officers will however need to exercise their professional judgement and discretion accordingly to the circumstances of each individual case.
Arrangements are in place to promote consistency in the enforcement and interpretation of legislation through liaison with other local authorities.
We have regard to statutory codes of practice and advice given by coordinating bodies and central government.
This means helping those who are regulated and others, to understand what is expected of them and what they should expect from us. It also means making clear why an officer intends to or has taken enforcement action and what rights of appeal are available.
Targeting means making sure that regulatory effort is directed primarily towards those whose activities are likely to give rise to the most serious breaches of legislation.
We have systems for prioritising regulatory effort and they include:
In carrying out its duties the council will respect the rights and freedoms guaranteed to individuals under the Human Rights Act 1998.
The council has regard to the Code for Crown Prosecutors in deciding whether to prosecute.
A prosecution will only be brought if:
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