Penalty Notice Payments

FAQs

Where do Enforcement Officers powers and authority come from? 

They are delegated from Slough Borough Council with clearly defined parameters of authority. The officers will enforce all legislation in accordance with the law and in line with the enforcement policy of the local authority.

Are all Enforcement Officers vetted?

Yes. All the officers are screened and vetted by DBS in compliance with British Standard 7858:2012.

Who designates what legislation Officers can enforce? 

This is set out in a contract between Red Snapper Managed Services (RSMS) and Slough Borough Council and was signed off by both parties prior to any patrol deployment. 

What could I get fined for? 

Uniformed Enforcement Officers from RSMS will issue fixed penalty notices in relation to Slough Borough Council’s Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs), you can find out more via the link below: http://www.slough.gov.uk/parking-travel-and-roads/public-spaces-protection-orders-pspos.aspx

Who has the final say in whether an individual is prosecuted? 

The decision always lies with Slough Borough Council. 

How can the public have confidence that RSMS Enforcement Officers always act responsibly? 

The Enforcement Officers are specialists in their field. They receive intensive introductory training and ongoing professional development to maintain the high standards required by us. There is body worn camera footage of every interaction between the Officers and members of the public. Any complaints against the Officers can be made to District Enforcement and are handled in line with established procedures.

Can I complain about the enforcement officer’s behaviour? 

Yes. Any complaints against the officers can be made to RSMS and will be dealt with in line with established procedures. You should be aware that making a complaint is treated separately to the issue of the FPN and as an offence is alleged you remain liable to prosecution unless you choose to pay the FPN within the time specified. 

What are fixed penalty notices?

A FPN gives an alleged offender the opportunity of discharging their liability from being prosecuted by paying the FPN. If an offender is prosecuted they may be faced with a conviction. 

How much is a Fixed Penalty Notice? 

The following amounts will apply

• £100 fixed penalty notice for breaching a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).

Can I appeal a Fixed Penalty Notice?

There are no formal grounds of appeal against a Fixed Penalty Notice. This is because a Fixed Penalty Notice is an invitation for you to effectively ‘buy off’ your liability to prosecution. This means that while this is not an admission of guilt, you agree that an offence has been committed and that by paying the sum of money specified no further action will be undertaken by the council. This method of dealing with offences not only saves the time involved for everyone (including the offender) in prosecuting cases at court, but the cost associated with a Fixed Penalty Notice is likely to be substantially lower than any fine imposed by the courts. 

But I don’t agree that I committed the offence for which I have received a Fixed Penalty Notice?

If you do not agree that you committed the offence for which you received the Fixed Penalty Notice then the matter will be dealt with through formal prosecution via the courts. It will then be up to the court, on receiving evidence, to determine whether or not an offence was committed and therefore whether or not any penalty should be imposed. Effectively this means that the formal court route becomes the mechanism for those wishing to appeal a Fixed Penalty Notice. It should be noted that the financial penalty imposed by the courts can be significantly more than that which is imposed through a Fixed Penalty Notice. 

What happens if I refuse to pay the fixed penalty? 

You will be prosecuted for the offence. 

I have limited funds and I will not be able to pay within the 14 days what can I do?

You can write into RSMS to explain your circumstances, this will be reviewed and you may be granted a time extension to pay the Fixed Penalty Notice. All the correspondence details will be on the FPN issued and all correspondence sent by RSMS.

Can I pay the fine by instalments? 

Payments are not accepted by instalments but you may be granted an extension. 

Where do the Enforcement Officers patrol?

The Enforcement Officers will patrol any area of land that is open to public access and will include areas such as town centres, residential streets and parks.