Section 10 Enforcement action by local authoritiesI1

(1)

A local authority may—

(a)

bring prosecutions in respect of offences in its area under this Act;

(b)

investigate complaints in respect of alleged offences in its area under this Act;

(c)

take any other steps with a view to reducing the incidence in its area of offences under this Act.

(2)

A local authority must—

(a)

consider, at least once in every period of twelve months, the extent to which it is appropriate for the authority to carry out in its area a programme of enforcement action in relation to this Act, and

(b)

to the extent that it considers it appropriate to do so, carry out such a programme.

(3)

In complying with subsection (2), an authority must in particular have regard to the following objectives—

(a)

improving public health;

(b)

protecting children from harm.

(4)

For the purposes of subsection (2), a programme of enforcement action in relation to this Act is a programme involving the taking of all or any of the steps referred to in subsection (1).

Annotations

Commencement

I1: S. 10 in force at 2.3.2020 by S.I. 2020/175, reg. 2(b)