What are the effects of a served notice?

• A. Once issued, it would normally have an immediate effect unless otherwise stated.
• B. Being issued with a notice is an offence.
• C. Non-compliance with a notice is not an offence.
• D. The notice automatically expires after 30 days.

Answer: (A)

A notice creates an immediate legal obligation once it is served. The enforcing authority uses it to stop a dangerous activity or to compel specific safety actions, and the effect starts at the moment of service. If the notice is a Prohibition Notice, the activity is stopped right away; if it’s an Improvement Notice, compliance is required by a stated deadline, but the notice itself takes effect from service. The phrase “unless otherwise stated” covers cases where the notice itself specifies a different start time or a different deadline.

The other statements aren’t correct because serving a notice isn’t itself an offence, though failing to comply with a notice is an offence. Also, there’s no universal expiry of 30 days—expiry or compliance periods depend on the type of notice and what the enforcing authority specifies.