Regulatory enforcement

Recent successful enforcement outcomes

The Community Protection Team investigates and addresses environmental crime including fly tipping and dog fouling, as well as anti-social behaviour and other environmental offending. As part of our offender deterrence work, we publish the outcomes of investigations that have become public record, please see below.

The team takes proportionate action in the form of warning letters and also fixed penalty notices (FPNs) and prosecutions.

FPNs allow an offender to accept responsibility for the offence they have committed, without having to go to court. A test is carried out for each individual case to determine what action is in the best interest of the public to pursue. For serious offences such as large fly tips, it is likely to be determined to be in the public interest to prosecute.

Other enforcement actions are also available to the Councils in the form of seizure of equipment (for example where noise nuisance is occurring and likely to recur) as well as Simple Cautions (previously called Formal Cautions) where the offender is given the opportunity to accept liability for the offence with no further action taken. A Simple Caution is kept on file and can be used to support further action if additional offences are subsequently committed by the same individual.

Prosecutions in 2022

1. Paul McNulty (of No Fixed Abode) - found guilty of fly tipping various quantities of commercial waste. Sentenced to 16 weeks imprisonment.
2. Nicola McPhee of Watton Road, Hingham, Norfolk - found guilty of breaching a noise abatement notice relating to dog barking. Issued with a 2 year conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £822.
3. Emma Benson, formerly of Common Road, Gissing, Norfolk - found guilty of breaching a noise abatement notice relating to dog barking. Ordered to pay an £80 fine, a victim surcharge of £34 and costs of £200.
4. Patrick Doran of Spooner Row, Wymondham, Norfolk - found guilty of fly-tipping a large static caravan. Ordered to pay a fine of £500 and costs of £1,500.

Enforcement action in 2022

Community Protection Warnings

Vermin: Bracon Ash and Hethel
Noise (both domestic and commercial): Chedgrave, Coltishall, Costessey, Diss, Ditchingham, Drayton, Forncett, Foulsham, Frettenham, Hingham, Lingwood, Little Plumstead, Old Catton, Redenhall with Harleston, Rockland St Mary, Sprowston, Taverham, Thorpe St Andrew, Woodton, Wymondham
Fly-tipping: Aylsham, Blofield, Diss, Norton Subcourse
Dog fouling: Poringland, Sprowston
Smoke: Aylsham, Geldeston, Roydon, Yelveton

Fixed Penalty Notices

Fly-tipping: Diss, Drayton, Flordon, Poringland, Postwick, Raveningham, Redenhall with Harleston, Seething, Stockton, Thorpe End
Littering: Diss, Tasburgh

Legal Notices

Vermin: Long Stratton
Noise (domestic): Stoke Holy Cross
Accumulations: Aylsham, Blofield, Spixworth
Odour: Salhouse