Enforcement policy

We help people and businesses with:

• Environmental Control and Protection - noise pollution, general pollution and air quality, statutory nuisance (for example smoke and smells), planning consultations, contaminated land, private water supplies and public health funerals.
• Food and Safety - food hygiene rating scheme, food safety and standards, food and food premises complaints, food and water related illnesses and health and safety at work, body piercing and event safety.
• Licensing - alcohol sales, regulated entertainment, festivals and event safety advisory group, gambling (including betting shops, bingo, gaming machines & lotteries), animal licensing (dangerous wild animals, zoos, pet sales, hiring out of horses, animal boarding including home boarding, catteries and kennels, dog crèche's, breeding premises and keeping or training of animals for exhibition).
• Pest Control - residential and commercial treatments for rodents, wasps, fleas, bed bugs cockroaches, cluster flies and grey squirrels.
• Trading Standards and Animal Health - rogue traders, counterfeit goods, product safety, weights and measures, underage sales, petroleum and fireworks licensing, animal welfare and animal feed standards. Civil advice is provided by the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 040506 on behalf of Trading Standards.
• ASB and Community Safety - coordinating a response to crime and anti-social behaviour, harassment/intimidation, verbal abuse (including shouting and swearing), substance misuse associated behaviour and vehicle related nuisance (such as car park related issues)

Our aim is to deal swiftly and proportionately with all complaints and breaches of the law in accordance with our Enforcement Policy (PDF, 161 KB)(opens new window). This includes working to resolve issues quickly using a variety of approaches ranging from support and mediation to enforcement action when necessary.

Our service will be delivered in accordance with the requirements of the Regulators' Code (opens new window).

Our professional officers spend a lot of their time out of the office, and so our preferred means of communication is by email, publicprotectionwest@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window).

If you contact the team we will endeavour to respond within two working days, but this may take up to five working days in some cases.

The council's website (www.wiltshire.gov.uk) provides a lot of information with links to our services from the front page.

You can expect: 

• an efficient and professional service
• a response to an initial enquiry or request within five working days 
• an initial response to emergency requests within 24 hours e.g. serious health and safety accidents or infectious disease outbreaks
• an explanation of the process and what we may or may not be able to do to help so you know what to expect
• to be informed about actions that will be taken and by whom
• contact details of other agencies if the issue is not the responsibility of Wiltshire Council
• a named contact and contact details if you have questions or concerns about our service

When you contact us: 

• provide your name, postal address, contact phone number and email (if you have one).
• give us a full description of your concerns (including names and contact details)
• give us any additional information that we ask for to help us understand when and what issues you are experiencing, e.g. completed log sheets for noise complaints
• make sure that all the information you provide is complete and accurate
• tell us if you have special needs or reasonable adjustments that may affect the service we offer you
• tell us if you need an interpreter to use our services
• treat our staff politely and with respect

We monitor and support compliance through inspections, sampling visits, test purchases, advisory visits and complaint investigations. These visits will always be based on an assessment of risk.

We carry out both unannounced and pre-arranged visits.  When we visit you our officers will:

• explain the reason and purpose of the visit 
• carry their identification card at all times, and present it on request 
• exercise discretion in front of your customers and staff
• work with you and your business to find the best way for you  to achieve compliance
• provide advice to support you in meeting your statutory obligations if required
• provide a written summary of advice where appropriate

Where we identify any failure to meet legal obligations, we will respond proportionately, taking account of the circumstances, in line with our Enforcement Policy.

Where we require action to be taken to remedy any failings we will:

• explain the nature of the non-compliance
• discuss what is required to achieve compliance, taking into account your circumstances
• clearly explain any advice, actions required or decisions that we have taken
• agree timescales that are acceptable to both you and us, in relation to any actions required
• provide in writing details of how to appeal against any advice provided, actions required or decisions taken, including any statutory rights to appeal
• explain what will happen next, including any timescales
• keep in touch with you, where required, until the matter is resolved

There may be occasions where our officers are unable to answer your query or have taken all reasonable steps to investigate a complaint and discover that a solution does not lie within the procedures or legislation that we work with. If this is the case we will do our best to give customers advice on what they can do themselves or who else they can approach to help them.

Email: publicprotectionwest@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window)
Phone: 0300 456 0107
Address: Public protection, Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8JN.
Face to face: To make a face to face appointment at your nearest council office call 0300 456 0107.

Information can be provided in different formats and we have access to translation and interpretation services if required. 

When you contact us we will ask you for your name and contact details, including your email address. Any information you give us will be kept confidential unless you give us permission to share your details with others who are helping with your case or there is an operational reason why we need to do so. Personal data will be managed in accordance with Wiltshire Council's Data Protection Policy.

We are always willing to discuss the reasons why we have acted in a particular way or asked you to act in a particular way. However, if you wish to make a complaint about our service these are managed through the Corporate Complaints Policy which can be found on our Making a complaint page or by calling  us on 01225 718 400.