Postcomm consults on financial penalties
24 July 2001
Postcomm today took the first step towards setting-up a regime which will enable it to impose financial penalties on postal licence holders who contravene their licence conditions.
Under the Postal Services Act 2000, Postcomm is required to consult the Consumer Council for Postal Services (Postwatch) and other interested parties before publishing its statement of policy on financial penalties.
A consultation document published today includes the following proposals:
- Decisions will be preceded by a proper investigation, which will have processes to ensure fairness going beyond the requirements of the Act,
- The starting point in deciding the level of penalties following a licence contravention, will be the benefit obtained by the licence holder, added to the burden the contravention imposed on others,
- Aggravating and mitigating circumstances will be considered,
- Penalties will meet the statutory criteria of being reasonable and within the limits related to turnover.
Copies of the document Financial penalties: statement of policy are available from Postcomm at 6 Hercules Road, London SE1 7DB.
