21.The Department may serve temporary, stand alone, stop notices to halt a breach of planning control for a period of up to 28 days as soon as the breach is identified. It enables the Department to prevent unauthorised development at an early stage without first having had to issue an enforcement notice. In addition, it allows the Department up to 28 days to decide whether further enforcement action is appropriate and what that action should be, without the breach intensifying by being allowed to continue. The provisions also impose certain limitations on activities and specify that contravention of such a notice would become a criminal offence, punishable on summary conviction by a fine of up to £30,000 or on indictment by an unlimited fine, and outline arrangements for compensation.