Enforcement figures showcase work to protect local communities

ENFORCEMENT officers have been working hard to help keep Tameside clean and safe by dealing with over 5000 public protection investigations and requests in just five months.

The figures, for 19 February to 21 June 2024, were presented to Tameside Council’s recent Enforcement Panel meeting as part of a regular report on public protection work.

The activity has included following up 1224 environmental enforcement service requests, including 931 for flytipping. Council officers are out every day clearing and investigating flytipping and in the same period, 127 fixed penalty notices were issued and two court prosecutions carried out in relation to illegally dumped waste.

Environment health officers were also busy, carrying out 432 food hygiene, health and safety inspections and investigating and actioning 617 complaints and requests.

While Trading Standards officers investigated and actioned 295 complaints and requests for service, carried out 97 food standards inspections, investigated 47 scams, investigated 8 under age sale complaints, made 10 illicit goods seizures, carried out 73 Buy With Confidence checks and carried out three court prosecutions.

Other areas covered in the figures include housing standards, licensing, environmental protection, health and safety enforcement and food safety and standards. The full list can be seen here.

Tameside Council Assistant Executive Member for Enforcement Cllr Hugh Roderick said: “We have officers out every day working with businesses and residents to make Tameside safer and cleaner and these figures showcase the breadth and vast scale of this public protection activity.

“Enforcement work – particularly in relation in clearing flytipping and litter – comes at a significant cost to public funds. We all have a responsibility to take pride in our neighbourhoods and keep them clean and tidy.

“Thank you to everyone who works with us to protect the local community and environment.”

To report any issues to the enforcement teams see www.tameside.gov.uk/ReportIt