National Enforcement Priorities
The National Enforcement Priorities (NEP) were identified by the Rogers Review in 2007. It is a list of priorities for local authorities to use when allocating resources to meet the expectations of their communities and businesses.
The National Enforcement Priorities came out of the Rogers Review 2007, which identified more than 60 policy areas which were enforced by local authorities. The Review considered the views of government departments, local authorities, the public and businesses before deciding which areas to prioritise. The areas identified for England by the review are:
- Air quality – reducing air pollution. Covering air quality regulations, including regulation of pollution from factories and homes.
- Alcohol licensing – protecting people from the effects of the misuse of alcohol through licensing. Covering alcohol, entertainment and late night refreshment licensing and its enforcement.
- Hygiene of food businesses – preventing food poisoning. Covering hygiene of businesses, selling, distributing and manufacturing food, and the safety and fitness of food in premises.
- Improving health in the workplace.
- Fair trading – protecting the vulnerable from scams and rogue traders. Covering trade description, trade marking, mislabelling and doorstep selling.
- Animal and public health. Covering animal and public health, animal movements and identification.
Local authorities should use this list of priorities when allocating resources to meet the expectations of their communities and businesses.
The Local Better Regulation Office
(LBRO) is responsible for reviewing this list as appropriate and preparing an alternative list for Wales. LBRO is developing models to guide local authorities as to how to have regard to the National Enforcement Priorities in future. In 2008, they assessed the approaches of seven councils to this issue. Key findings and examples of good practice are highlighted in the NEP project reports, available on the LBRO website.
