The Environmental Protection (Plastic Straws, Cotton Buds and Stirrers) (England) Regulations 2020

PART 2 E+W Stop Notices

Stop notices E+W

9.—(1) A regulator may serve a stop notice on any person in a case falling within sub-paragraph (3) or (4).

(2) A “stop notice” is a notice prohibiting a person from carrying on an activity specified in the notice until the person has taken the steps specified in the notice.

(3) A case falling within this sub-paragraph is a case where the regulator reasonably believes that—

(a) the person is carrying on the activity;

(b) the activity as carried on by that person is causing, or presents a significant risk of causing, serious harm to the environment (including the health of animals); and

(c) the activity as carried on by that person involves or is likely to involve the commission of an offence under Parts 2 to 4 of these Regulations.

(4) A case falling within this sub-paragraph is a case where the regulator reasonably believes that—

(a) the person is likely to carry on the activity;

(b) the activity as likely to be carried on by that person will cause, or will present a significant risk of causing, serious harm to the environment (including the health of animals); and

(c) the activity as likely to be carried on by that person will involve or will be likely to involve the commission of an offence under Parts 2 to 4 of these Regulations.

(5) The steps referred to in sub-paragraph (2) must be steps to remove or reduce the harm or risk of harm to the environment (including the health of animals).

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. para. 9 in force at 1.10.2020, see reg. 1(2)

Contents of a stop notice E+W

10.  A stop notice must include information as to—

(a) the grounds for serving the notice;

(b) the steps the person must take to comply with the stop notice;

(c) rights of appeal; and

(d) the consequences of non-compliance.

Commencement Information

I2 Sch. para. 10 in force at 1.10.2020, see reg. 1(2)

Appeals against stop notices E+W

11.—(1) The person on whom a stop notice is served may appeal against the decision to serve it.

(2) The grounds for appeal are—

(a) that the decision was based on an error of fact;

(b) that the decision was wrong in law;

(c) that the decision was unreasonable;

(d) that any step specified in the notice is unreasonable;

(e) that the person has not committed the offence and would not have committed it had the stop notice not been served;

(f) that the person would not, by reason of any defence, have been liable to be convicted of the offence had the stop notice not been served;

(g) any other reason.

Commencement Information

I3 Sch. para. 11 in force at 1.10.2020, see reg. 1(2)

Completion certificates E+W

12.—(1) Where, after service of a stop notice, the regulator is satisfied that the person has taken the steps specified in the notice, the regulator must issue a certificate to that effect (“a completion certificate”).

(2) The stop notice ceases to have effect on the issue of a completion certificate.

(3) The person on whom the stop notice is served may at any time apply for a completion certificate.

(4) The regulator must make a decision as to whether to issue a completion certificate, and give written notice of the decision to the applicant, within 14 days of such an application.

Commencement Information

I4 Sch. para. 12 in force at 1.10.2020, see reg. 1(2)

Appeals against decision not to issue a completion certificate E+W

13.  The person on whom the stop notice was served may appeal against a decision not to issue a completion certificate on the grounds that the decision—

(a) was based on an error of fact;

(b) was wrong in law;

(c) was unfair or unreasonable;

(d) was wrong for any other reason.

Commencement Information

I5 Sch. para. 13 in force at 1.10.2020, see reg. 1(2)

Compensation E+W

14.  The regulator must compensate a person for loss suffered as the result of the service of a stop notice or the refusal of a completion certificate if—

(a) the stop notice is subsequently withdrawn or amended by the regulator because the decision to serve it was unreasonable or any step specified in the notice was unreasonable;

(b) the person successfully appeals against the stop notice and the First-tier Tribunal finds that the service of the notice was unreasonable; or

(c) the person successfully appeals against the refusal of a completion certificate and the First-tier Tribunal finds that the refusal was unreasonable.

Commencement Information

I6 Sch. para. 14 in force at 1.10.2020, see reg. 1(2)

Appeal against compensation decision E+W

15.  A person may appeal against a decision not to award compensation or the amount of compensation awarded—

(a) on the grounds that the regulator’s decision was unreasonable;

(b) on the grounds that the amount offered was based on incorrect facts;

(c) for any other reason.

Commencement Information

I7 Sch. para. 15 in force at 1.10.2020, see reg. 1(2)

Offence E+W

16.—(1) Where a person on whom a stop notice is served does not comply with it, the person is guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F1 the general limit in a magistrates’ court], or both; or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine, or both.

(2) In relation to an offence committed before [F2 2nd May 2022], the reference in sub-paragraph (1)(a) to [F3 the general limit in a magistrates’ court] is to be read as a reference to six months.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. para. 16(1)(a) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(2), Sch. Pt. 2

F2 Words in Sch. para. 16(2) substituted (28.4.2022) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 33) and Sentencing Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/500), regs. 1(2), 5(2), Sch. Pt. 2

F3 Words in Sch. para. 16(2) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(2), Sch. Pt. 2

Commencement Information

I8 Sch. para. 16 in force at 1.10.2020, see reg. 1(2)