Regulatory offences

As the name suggests, regulatory offences are breaches of regulations relating to specific industries or activities which are usually prosecuted by non-police organisations such as local authorities, Trading Standards, the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency.

Prosecutions can be brought against businesses or individuals and can often be extremely complex, relying on the technical details of any relevant regulations. If you are facing prosecution for an alleged regulatory offence, our specialist team at Mander Hadley can help.

Health and safety offences

Employers have a duty of care to their employees, as well as contractors and any members of the public who visit their premises.

Health and safety offences are prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which has the power to investigate any incident or complaint involving your business. If you are facing an HSE investigation, you should seek legal advice immediately. Please contact us now.

Food hygiene offences

Premises which sell food are bound by strict regulations governing how food is stored and prepared, for example keeping raw meat separate from cooked meat, as well as the cleanliness and state of repair of the premises.

If it is felt that you have not met these regulations, the local authority may decide to prosecute, leading to substantial fines or even imprisonment, not to mention the damage to your reputation. If you have been served with a legal notice relating to food and hygiene offences, you need to contact us now.

Trading Standards offences

Trading Standards officers are part of the local authority and investigate a wide range of offences, including those relating to copyright, trademarks, trade descriptions, weights and measures and consumer credit agreements. Penalties for these offences can include unlimited fines and even imprisonment. For help and advice contact us now.

House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) breaches

If you are operating as a landlord or manager renting out Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), you will need to adhere to a strict set of rules to ensure the health and safety of your tenants particularly to reduce the risk of fire. In some areas and for larger houses you will be required to obtain and comply with a licence.

If you are found to be operating without a licence, or to have breached the regulations, you could face prosecution, potential fines or imprisonment and substantial prosecution costs. For help and advice regarding alleged HMO breaches, please contact us now.

Taxi licensing and other regulatory matters

Mander Hadley’s team of specialists also deal with other regulatory matters including taxi licensing. The local licensing authority has power to suspend or revoke drivers’ or operators’ licences in certain circumstances, usually where traffic or other offences have been committed. Our specialists can advise and represent you at licensing authority hearings.

To find out how we can help you, please contact us now.