Written question asked by Caroline Spelman (Conservative) on Tuesday, 23 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 March 2010. It was answered by Claire Ward (Labour) on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Antisocial Behaviour: Fixed Penalties

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 1 March 2010, Official Report, column 947W, on anti-social behaviour: fixed penalties, what powers representatives of parish councils have to issue penalty notices for disorder; and what changes there have been to parish councils' powers to issue fines or fixed penalty notices since 1997.

Answer: It is possible for a parish warden to be accredited under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme. In granting accreditation, the chief officer of the local police force may also grant powers that include a power to issue penalty notices for disorder.Parish council representatives also have powers to issue other fixed penalty notices. The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 allows parish councils to prosecute, in the magistrates court, those that are suspected of committing an offence against a dog control order, or who are suspected of having committed a litter, graffiti or fly-posting offence. The Act gives the power to parish councils to authorise staff to issue fixed penalty notices to alleged offenders as an alternative to prosecution.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 508 c1051-2W; 324840
Session: 2009-10
Related items: Antisocial Behaviour: Fixed Penalties
Monday, 1 March 2010
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Anti-social behaviour Fixed penalties
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk