This week’s Chiswick Area Forum saw Chiswick Councillors approve a motion proposed by Councillor Paul Lynch and seconded by Councillor John Todd, calling for the enforcement of Hounslow bye laws by Police personnel.
The motion asks for the Lead Member for Community Safety, Labour Councillor Ed Mayne, to produce a paper at the next Borough Council recommending that “sworn Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers” be mandated to enforce Hounslow Bye Laws with Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) or “amendments to their current PCN library”.
Speaking after the motion Councillor Paul Lynch said:
“This motion will enable a debate to take place about removing some odd restrictions on our Safer Neighbourhood Teams. A policeman can enforce statutory law in our parks and on Council property, but they need to be specially empowered to enforce LBH bye-laws. So, in some areas, they can tackle a mugger, but not a litterer or someone breaking cycling or dog control laws. It is confusing and illogical distinction, which many Boroughs avoid by empowering PCs in the way John Todd and I suggest.
Hounslow Highways have recently dished out thirty fines for littering recently thanks to their staff being able to prosecute on the spot. However, we believe Police should be able to do the same thing, and increase the likelihood of offenders being caught.”
Hounslow Councillors recently approved a Borough wide ban on spitting as well with Council uniformed staff able to prosecute for anyone caught spitting but Chiswick Councillors want these powers extended, so Police Officers can enforce the ban on a far larger and more effective scale.