Mike has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM 1325) calling for police throughout the UK to be given equal powers to Environmental Health Teams in administering noise law, as agreed on a local basis.

Such legislation would allow police to act quickly in cases where anti-social, threatening and possibly criminal behaviour results in noise complaints to councils or police helplines. This power has been enacted and is working well in Scotland – not adding extra burden to Police workloads, but giving them a very useful ‘tool’ in their toolbox – and could potentially have similar benefits throughout the rest of the UK.

The text of the Early Day Motion is below:

“This House welcomes the initiative of local Police commanders who work closely with local authorities in tackling noise nuisance; notes that more householders tend to phone the police than phone their local authority noise service even though statutory responsibility rests with the latter; notes that in many other countries the Police have primary responsibility for dealing with noise nuisance; is concerned that many local authority areas do not provide resources to respond to late night noise nuisance complaints; notes that many cases of serious noise-making may also be associated with other crimes and misdemeanours and thus appropriate for Police involvement; believes that giving the Police equal statutory powers with local authorities to respond to noise complaints where the issues are straightforward and do not require specialist acoustic advice would benefit both householders and effective local policing; and urges the Government to introduce early legislation to give the Police such equal powers.”