(1)A local authority may—
(a)bring prosecutions in respect of offences in its area under this Act;
(b)investigate complaints in respect of alleged offences in its area under this Act;
(c)take any other steps with a view to reducing the incidence in its area of offences under this Act.
(2)A local authority must—
(a)consider, at least once in every period of twelve months, the extent to which it is appropriate for the authority to carry out in its area a programme of enforcement action in relation to this Act, and
(b)to the extent that it considers it appropriate to do so, carry out such a programme.
(3)In complying with subsection (2), an authority must in particular have regard to the following objectives—
(a)improving public health;
(b)protecting children from harm.
(4)For the purposes of subsection (2), a programme of enforcement action in relation to this Act is a programme involving the taking of all or any of the steps referred to in subsection (1).