OpenLegislation

Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008

2008 c. 13 · Enacted 21 July 2008 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 8 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 29 October 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Sch. 7words insertedHistoric Environment (Wales) Act 2016 s. 31(4)
s. 70(4)(a)words substitutedData Protection Act 2018 Sch. 19 para. 152(2)
s. 70(6)insertedData Protection Act 2018 Sch. 19 para. 152(3)
Sch. 3words insertedDigital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 s. 279(1)
Sch. 3words omittedTobacco and Vapes Act 2026 Sch. 7 para. 8
Sch. 3words omittedTobacco and Vapes Act 2026 Sch. 21 para. 3
Sch. 6words omittedTobacco and Vapes Act 2026 Sch. 7 para. 9(2)
Sch. 6words omittedTobacco and Vapes Act 2026 Sch. 7 para. 9(3)

An Act to make provision for the establishment of the Local Better Regulation Office; for the co-ordination of regulatory enforcement by local authorities; for the creation of civil sanctions in relation to regulatory offences; for the reduction and removal of regulatory burdens; and for connected purposes. 9

[21st July 2008]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Part 1: The Local Better Regulation Office
  2. Establishment of LBRO
  3. 1LBRO
  4. 2Dissolution of the LBRO company Repealed
  5. Definitions
  6. 3“Local authority”
  7. 4“Relevant function”
  8. General functions of LBRO
  9. 5Objective relating to general functions
  10. 6Guidance to local authorities
  11. 7Guidance to local authorities: enforcement Repealed
  12. 8Financial support and assistance to local authorities Repealed
  13. 9Advice to Ministers of the Crown Repealed
  14. 10Advice to Welsh Ministers
  15. Function relating to enforcement priorities
  16. 11Enforcement priorities
  17. Matters relating to exercise of LBRO's functions
  18. 12Relationship with other regulators
  19. 13Duty not to impose burdens etc Repealed
  20. 14Ancillary powers Repealed
  21. Ministerial powers in relation to LBRO
  22. 15Guidance or directions by the Secretary of State Repealed
  23. 16Guidance or directions by Welsh Ministers
  24. Supplementary and general
  25. 17Review of LBRO Repealed
  26. 18Power to dissolve LBRO
  27. 19Dissolution of LBRO: tax
  28. 20Orders under Part 1
  29. 21Interpretation of Part 1
  30. Part 2: Co-ordination of regulatory enforcement
  31. Introductory
  32. 22Scope of Part 2
  33. 23“Local authority”
  34. 24“Relevant function”
  35. Primary authorities
  36. 25Primary authorities
  37. 26Nomination of primary authorities
  38. Functions of primary authorities
  39. 27Advice and guidance
  40. 28Enforcement action
  41. 29Enforcement action: exclusions
  42. 30Inspection plans
  43. Primary authorities: supplementary
  44. 31Power to charge
  45. 32LBRO support Repealed
  46. General
  47. 33Guidance from the Secretary of State
  48. 34Orders under Part 2
  49. 35Interpretation of Part 2
  50. Part 2: Regulatory Enforcement
  51. Introductory
  52. 22A“Regulated person” and “regulated group”
  53. 22B“Qualifying regulator”
  54. 22C“Relevant function”
  55. Primary authorities
  56. 23APrimary authorities for regulated persons and regulated groups
  57. 23BNomination of primary authorities
  58. 23C“Co-ordinator” of a regulated group
  59. 23DMembership of a regulated group
  60. 23EApplication of sections 24A to 28B
  61. Advice and guidance
  62. 24APrimary authority advice and guidance
  63. Enforcement action
  64. 25A“Enforcement action”
  65. 25BEnforcement action by primary authority
  66. 25CEnforcement action other than by primary authority
  67. 25DEnforcement action: exceptions
  68. Inspection plans
  69. 26AInspection plans
  70. 26BEffect of inspection plans
  71. 26CRevocation and revision of inspection plans
  72. Primary authority's costs
  73. 27APower to charge
  74. Other regulators
  75. 28ASupport of primary authority by other regulators
  76. 28BOther regulators to act consistently with primary authority advice etc
  77. Cases with more than one primary authority
  78. 29APrimary authority enforcement action inconsistent with another authority's advice etc
  79. 29BConcurrent duties to notify primary authorities of enforcement action
  80. 29CEnforcement action notified to a primary authority inconsistent with another authority's advice etc
  81. 29DOverlapping inspection plans
  82. General
  83. 30AGuidance and directions
  84. 30BPeriods of time under Part 2
  85. 30CRegulations under Part 2
  86. 30DInterpretation of Part 2
  87. Part 3: Civil sanctions
  88. Orders under Part 3: introductory
  89. 36Power to make orders providing for civil sanctions
  90. 37“Regulator”
  91. 38“Relevant offence”
  92. Fixed monetary penalties
  93. 39Fixed monetary penalties
  94. 40Fixed monetary penalties: procedure
  95. 41Fixed monetary penalties: criminal proceedings and conviction
  96. Discretionary requirements
  97. 42Discretionary requirements
  98. 43Discretionary requirements: procedure
  99. 44Discretionary requirements: criminal proceedings and conviction
  100. 45Discretionary requirements: enforcement
  101. Stop notices
  102. 46Stop notices
  103. 47Stop notices: procedure
  104. 48Stop notices: compensation
  105. 49Stop notices: enforcement
  106. Enforcement undertakings
  107. 50Enforcement undertakings
  108. Orders under Part 3: supplementary provision
  109. 51Combination of sanctions
  110. 52Monetary penalties
  111. 53Costs recovery
  112. 54Appeals
  113. 55Other provision
  114. Orders under Part 3: exclusions
  115. 56Excluded provision: Scotland
  116. 57Excluded provision: Northern Ireland
  117. Orders under Part 3: procedure
  118. 58Consultation and consent: Scotland
  119. 59Consultation and consent: Wales
  120. 60Consultation: general
  121. 61Parliamentary and Assembly procedure
  122. Extension of powers to make subordinate legislation
  123. 62Offences under subordinate legislation
  124. Guidance
  125. 63Guidance as to use of civil sanctions
  126. 64Guidance as to enforcement of relevant offences
  127. 65Publication of enforcement action
  128. Exercise of powers: general
  129. 66Compliance with regulatory principles
  130. 67Review
  131. 68Suspension
  132. Supplementary and general
  133. 69Payment of penalties into Consolidated Fund etc
  134. 70Disclosure of information
  135. 71Interpretation of Part 3
  136. Part 4: Regulatory burdens
  137. 72Duty not to impose or maintain unnecessary burdens
  138. 73Functions to which section 72 applies
  139. Part 5: General
  140. 74General interpretation
  141. 75Extent
  142. 76Commencement
  143. 77Short title
  144. Schedule 1: LBRO: supplementary
  145. Status
  146. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  147. Membership
  148. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  149. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  150. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  151. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  152. Tenure
  153. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  154. Employees
  155. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  156. Committees
  157. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  158. Proceedings
  159. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  160. Delegation
  161. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  162. Funding
  163. 11Paragraph 11
  164. Annual report
  165. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  166. Accounts
  167. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  168. Financial year
  169. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  170. Instruments and authentication
  171. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  172. Records
  173. 16Paragraph 16
  174. Parliamentary disqualification
  175. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  176. Investigation
  177. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  178. Freedom of information
  179. 19Paragraph 19 Repealed
  180. Transitional provisions
  181. 20Paragraph 20 Repealed
  182. Schedule 2: Replacement of the LBRO company by LBRO Repealed
  183. Transfer of staff Repealed
  184. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  185. Transfer of property, rights and liabilities Repealed
  186. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  187. Tax Repealed
  188. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  189. Continuity between the LBRO company and LBRO Repealed
  190. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  191. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  192. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  193. Schedule 3: Enactments specified for the purposes of Part 1
  194. Paragraph
  195. Schedule 4: Enforcement action: references to the Secretary of State
  196. Reference by enforcing authority
  197. 1Paragraph 1
  198. Reference by regulated person
  199. 2Paragraph 2
  200. Reference by primary authority
  201. 3Paragraph 3
  202. Effect of reference
  203. 4Paragraph 4
  204. Consultation
  205. 5Paragraph 5
  206. Procedure: general
  207. 6Paragraph 6
  208. Guidance and directions
  209. 7Paragraph 7
  210. Information
  211. 8Paragraph 8
  212. Schedule 4A: References to the Secretary of State
  213. Part 1: Enforcement action by primary authority
  214. 1Paragraph 1
  215. Part 2: Enforcement action other than by primary authority
  216. Reference by an enforcing authority
  217. 2Paragraph 2
  218. Reference by regulated person or member of the regulated group
  219. 3Paragraph 3
  220. Reference by primary authority
  221. 4Paragraph 4
  222. Part 3: General
  223. Timing
  224. 5Paragraph 5
  225. Consultation
  226. 6Paragraph 6
  227. Information
  228. 7Paragraph 7
  229. Secretary of State's costs
  230. 8Paragraph 8
  231. Procedure
  232. 9Paragraph 9
  233. Schedule 5: Designated regulators
  234. Paragraph
  235. Schedule 6: Enactments specified for the purposes of orders under Part 3
  236. Paragraph
  237. Schedule 7: Enactments specified for the purposes of section 62
  238. Paragraph