Who can issue a Community Protection Notice (CPN)?
A CPN can be given by:
- a police officer
- the local council
- someone chosen by the council (like a council officer, wardens, landlords or Police community support officers (PCSOs))
The Notice
A CPN can be used in many different situations. It focuses on how people and communities are affected by problems in the area.
When possible, officers should speak to the people who are affected. This helps them understand how the problem is having a bad effect on the community. It also helps gather proof against those causing the problem.
A CPN can only be given if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person, business, or group is:
- doing something that is making life worse for people in the area
- doing it more than once or not stopping
- acting in a way that is not fair or reasonable
Examples
These examples are unreasonable and can be enforced:
- a loud party at 3am that keeps happening
- riding a motorbike on the pavement and scaring people
- a café where people outside are bothering people walking past
- a shop putting things on the pavement so people cannot pass by easily
- inappropriate use of the highway by illegal vehicle crossings, causing damage to grass verges and footways
The 'reasonable grounds' are considered on a case-by-case basis.