Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008

Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008

2008 CHAPTER 13

Commentary on Sections

Part Three: Civil Sanctions

 Section 64: Guidance as to enforcement of relevant offences

167. This section requires that, where a Minister grants a regulator any alternative sanctioning power under this Act, the regulator should prepare and publish guidance about how the offence to which the power relates is enforced (“Enforcement Policy”). For each offence, the Enforcement Policy must set out the relevant sanctions to which a person may be liable. The Enforcement Policy must also set out the action which the regulator may take to enforce the offence. For example, it might state that a particular offence will usually be enforced by way of a fixed monetary penalty rather than criminal prosecution. The Enforcement Policy must set out the circumstances in which the regulator is likely to take such action. For example, the policy might say that criminal prosecution may be more likely where the person has a history of regulatory non-compliance. The Enforcement Policy, in contrast to Penalty Guidance, is focussed on how particular offences are enforced.

168. A regulator will be able to revise its guidance periodically. The regulator will be required to consult with all persons it considers appropriate before publishing or revising its guidance.