Multi Tasking Within Civil Enforcement

Overview

Local authorities are increasingly facing the challenge of the various types of environmental nuisance related to keeping their towns and cities clean and safe using the powers of the following:

• Disposal Act (Amenity) 1978 - Fly tipping
• Criminal Damage Act 1971 - Graffiti
• Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) Regulations 2002 - Idling Vehicles
• Clean Neighbourhood and Environments Act 2005 - Dog Fouling
• Highways Act - Fly Posting
• Environmental Protection Act - Littering

The Challenge

Against this backdrop Salford City Council, in consideration of its 'Street Scene' agenda, sought an outsourced provider who could handle not only on street Parking Enforcement but also this 'enviro-crime' as an ancillary function to supplement the council's existing team of Environmental Crime Enforcement Officers. This requirement formed a unique new element of the contract specification for its outsourced service of Parking Enforcement and would involve direct intervention by way of issuing fixed penalty notices for offences such as littering, fly posting, dog fouling and graffiti.

The Solution

NSL worked with Salford to ensure that its team of Civil Enforcement Officers were fully trained to issue valid Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) and interpret the law surround FPNs. Our experience of systems and procedures issuing Penalty Charge Notices within parking enforcement enabled us to confidently take on the additional challenge. We innovatively combined both roles without detriment to either service, and worked with the council to undertake positive publicity in local newspapers highlighting the new powers.

Salford was the first Local Authority in the Country to multi-task it's Parking Attendants in this manner.

The Result

The officers enforcing environmental offences have been an effective visible deterrent and they have demonstrated that the additional service can be delivered without detriment to the core role of parking and traffic management.

NSL currently issues about 25 fixed penalty notices, mainly for littering. Ultimately the multitasking of NSL's Civil Enforcement Officers has reduced 'enviro crime' and made Salford a much better city in which to live

Next Steps

NSL has worked in partnership with Salford to continually improve the strategy, communicating and interacting as one holistic team with environmental enforcement officers and allowing the council to more effectively deploy other staff.

If you would like a multi-dimensional solution for your on street enforcement please contact us.