POLICE POWERS ON NOISE NUISANCE COMPLAINTS

Early day motion 1325, tabled 24 January 2011 by Mike Weatherley (Conservative). Signed by 26 members.

That this House welcomes the initiative of local police commanders who work closely with local authorities in tackling noise nuisance; notes that more householders tend to telephone the police than telephone their local authority noise service even though statutory responsibility rests with the latter; further notes that in many other countries the police have primary responsibility for dealing with noise nuisance; is concerned that many local authority areas do not provide resources to respond to late night noise nuisance complaints; further notes that many cases of serious noise-making may also be associated with other crimes and misdemeanours and thus appropriate for police involvement; believes that giving the police equal statutory powers with local authorities to respond to noise complaints where the issues are straightforward and do not require specialist acoustic advice would benefit both householders and effective local policing; and urges the Government to introduce early legislation to give the police such equal powers.

Signatures by party: Labour 11, Conservative 6, Liberal Democrat 5, DUP 2, Green 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.