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Enforcement

We have a responsibility to enforce a range of legislation which helps make Belfast a safe place to live, work and visit. This legislation covers things like:

• Antisocial behaviour
• Building control
• Cleansing and waste management
• Environmental health
• Licensing (including entertainment and street trading)
• Parks, playing fields and open spaces.

So we've produced a regulation and enforcement policy in order to adopt a positive and proactive approach towards enforcement.

This policy will help you understand and fulfil your legal responsibilities more easily. And it will help us respond proportionately to non-compliance, avoiding imposing unnecessary costs while taking firm action against those who flout the law.

We'll use this policy in all our dealings with businesses or members of the public and may be supported by specific enforcement guidelines, procedures and documentation to help our officers make enforcement decisions.

• Download our regulation and enforcement policy (PDF - 951KB)

This policy will support us in:

• creating a safe and healthy city
• protecting the public
• fulfilling our statutory duties
• ensuring the safety of our staff
• ensuring better care for Belfast's environment
• encouraging economic growth through fair and effective regulation

It's consistent with the principles set out in the Government's Better Regulation agenda and with the principles of the Enforcement Concordat. It's also intended to improve compliance with legislation while minimising the burden on businesses, individuals, organisations and the Council.

Statutory responsibilities

We recognise we must act in accordance with our statutory responsibilities in all our dealings, including:

• The Human Rights Act 1998
• The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
• The Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996
• The Police and Criminal Evidence (NI) Order 1989
• The Data Protection Act 1998
• All associated Codes of Practice

We are committed to fulfilling our responsibilities under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Therefore any decision regarding enforcement will be impartial and will not be influenced by the religious beliefs, political opinion, racial group, age, gender, marital status or sexual orientation of any alleged offender, complainant or witness.

Contact us

General enquiries
Belfast City Hall
Belfast
BT1 5GS

Telephone: 028 9032 0202
Textphone: 028 9027 0405

Email: generalenquiries@belfastcity.gov.uk