Clause 101
Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill
11:00 am
Phil Woolas (Minister of State (Local Government & Community Cohesion), Department for Communities and Local Government; Oldham East and Saddleworth, Labour)
The citizen is backed by the law and access to the courts. If a fixed penalty notice is issued by an accredited officer of the local authority, including a police community support officer, that officer will have been accredited by the chief police officer. On an appeal against the issue of a notice—that is, “Not guilty, guv!”—or a challenge to the process and the right of a person to issue it, people will have recourse to the courts, as is currently the case under byelaws. Often, the public do not realise that, but it is so.
If a person gets such a notice and does not pay, including if they want to challenge it, the matter goes to court. If you get one, Mr. Chope, and wish to challenge it, just do not pay it and you will get your day in court, as is already the case. This provision is a simple extension of the existing power.