Q835: What is a Community Protection Notice?

Owning a laser pen is not an offence, they are generally used by lecturers to highlight points when making a presentation. The vast majority of shop-bought laser pens will be relatively weak; meaning that exposure to the beam of such products would not result in an eye injury.

The website in 'Related Information' explains the different classes of lasers; classification based upon the power of the laser in question. The Health Protection Agency suggests that no laser pens more powerful than Class 2 be available for general sale, due to their potential to cause injury.

Whilst owning a laser pen is not illegal if a person had one in the street and was using it (or intending to use it) to shine in people's eyes, at cars or aircraft etc. then they would be committing an offence and, in the case of cars and aircraft, a particularly serious offence. They may also be personally liable to a Community Protection Notice for anti social behaviour, namely unreasonable behaviour of a persistent or continuing nature which has a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality.

If you do not wish to take part in the survey or donate to the charity etc, the best response is to say "No thank you." and walk away. Remember you are under no obligation to buy or give. They should not chase you down the street, shout after you, or block your path. 

If you do experience such behaviour you can make a complaint to the company or charity who they are representing. You may need the name of that person. Most workers work for third-party agencies that have contracts with charities.

If you think the person is a bogus charity collector, tell the charity or report them to your local police.

If you do stop then you should be told that they are being paid for collecting on behalf of a charity.

For further information, please visit the website in related links.

A Community Protection Notice (CPN) is aimed to prevent unreasonable behaviour that is having a negative impact on the local community's quality of life.

Any person aged 16 years or over can be issued with a notice, whether it is an individual or a business, and it will require the behaviour to stop and if necessary reasonable steps to be taken to ensure it is not repeated in the future.

CPNs replace current measures including litter clearing, defacement removal and street litter control notices. Below are examples of when a CPN may be issued;

• when a dog is constantly escaping through a broken fence the owner could be issued a CPN requiring that the fence be fixed to avoid further escapes,
• a notice could be issued to a local shop/supermarket who are allowing litter to be deposited outside the property, or
• to prevent anti-social behaviour such as regularly playing loud music in a public area.

Police officers, local authorities and designated PCSOs can issue CPNs but before doing so they must consider two things; whether the conduct is having a detrimental effect on the community's quality of life and also, whether said conduct is considered unreasonable. The individual must be given a written warning beforehand stating that if the behaviour doesn't cease, the notice will be issued.

The notice can be appealed in the Magistrates' Court within 21 days. Failure to comply is an offence and may result in a fine or a fixed penalty notice. To apply for a CPN or to enquire further, you will need to contact your local policing team. You can do this via the non-emergency 101 number or alternatively by visiting your local force's website.