The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) Regulations 2020

Premises closure notice

2.—(1) If either condition 1 or condition 2 is satisfied, an enforcement officer may issue a notice (a “premises closure notice”) to a responsible person requiring the premises, or part of the premises, to be closed.

(2) Condition 1 is—

(a) a premises improvement notice has been issued to the person,

(b) the enforcement officer considers that the person has failed to take the measures specified in the premises improvement notice within the specified time limit, and

(c) the officer considers that the closure of the premises, or part of the premises, is necessary and proportionate for the purpose of minimising the risk of exposure to coronavirus.

(3) Condition 2 is that the enforcement officer considers that—

(a) the person is not complying with the obligations imposed on the person by regulation 16 or 17, and

(b) the closure of the premises, or part of the premises, (without a premises improvement notice having been issued) is necessary and proportionate for the purpose of minimising the risk of exposure to coronavirus.

(4) A premises closure notice must—

(a) contain a description of the premises to be closed,

(b) where a premises improvement notice has been issued, set out the measures that the enforcement officer considers—

(i) have not been taken, and

(ii) must be taken in order to ensure that the responsible person complies with the obligations imposed by regulation 16 or 17,

(c) where a premises improvement notice has not been issued, set out the reasons why the enforcement officer considers that the person is not complying with the obligations imposed by regulation 16 or 17,

(d) in either case, set out the reasons why the enforcement officer considers that closure of the premises is necessary and proportionate for the purpose of minimising the risk of exposure to coronavirus,

(e) specify the period for which the notice has effect, and

(f) give details of the right of appeal conferred by paragraph 5.

(5) The period specified under sub-paragraph (4)(e) may not be more than 672 hours (28 days) beginning with the time the notice is issued.

(6) A premises closure notice has effect from the time at which it is issued or from a later time specified in the notice.

(7) A premises closure notice may not be issued in relation to premises which form part of critical infrastructure (for example, premises used to generate electricity or supply water) or which are used to provide essential public services.

(8) Where—

(a) an enforcement officer considers that a responsible person has failed to take the measures specified in a premises improvement notice within the specified time limit, and

(b) either—

(i) a fixed penalty notice has been issued, or

(ii) proceedings have been brought for an offence,

in relation to that failure,

the enforcement officer may nevertheless issue a premises closure notice under sub-paragraph (1).