Enforcement

10Enforcement action by local authorities

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).