Community Protection Notice

The Community Protection Notice (CPN) is part of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, see Legislation.gov.uk - ASB Crime & Policing Act 2014. It can be issued to anyone over the age of 16 for behaviour that is having a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality; persistent or continuing in nature; and unreasonable.

There are three stages to the CPN.

Stage 1 - warning letter

A letter will be sent outlining what action you are required to take or stop within a set time period. This is an opportunity to modify behaviour without any formal sanctions being taken.

Stage 2 - Community Protection Notice

A CPN can be issued when you have failed to take the actions outlined in the written warning. The CPN will give details of what actions you are required to take or stop within a set time period. Failure to comply with the CPN may result in sanctions being taken.

Stage 3 - sanctions

If a CPN is breached then the following sanctions can be made:

• You may be prosecuted. If you are prosecuted and convicted the maximum penalty is a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale (currently £2,500); to a fine not exceeding £20,000, in case of a body

• You may, in the alternative, be given the opportunity of accepting in lieu of prosecution a fixed penalty, in the amount of £100. You can pay a fixed penalty online, see Pay a Community Protection Notice

• The court may make whatever order the court thinks appropriate for ensuring that what the notice requires to be done is done.

• An order under this section may in particular require:

  1. to carry out specific work, or
  2. to allow specified work to be carried out by or on behalf of a specified local authority

   

• The court may require you to surrender possession of any item used in your failure to comply with the Notice to a constable or to a person representing the local authority. The court may require this to be destroyed or disposed of by the police force. A justice of the peace may issue a warrant, authorising a constable or authorised person to enter your premises to seize the item.