§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government policy in respect of police investigations of offences under the Hedgerows Regulations 1997(a) in general and (b) in cases where the offence may have been committed by public bodies, indicating how many investigations have occurred to date. [82563]
§ Mr. BoatengUnder the Hedgerows Regulations 1997, offences in respect of hedgerows may be prosecuted by the police (through the Crown Prosecution Service) local authorities or indeed any private person. Whilst the police may investigate these offences, normal practice is for local planning authorities to take responsibility for such matters.
The information requested is not held centrally.