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).