Madam Speaker, the Police de l’Environnement is established under section 14 of the Environment Act 2024 to provide to the Director of Environment such assistance as may be required in order to enforce the environmental law. The duties and responsibilities of the Police de l’Environnement include the enforcement of environment-related legislations and pollution prevention, sensitisation on environmental issues, investigation into breach of environmental laws and attending to public complaints on such matters. On 01 October 2022, the following two Regulations on environment protection relating to noise pollution were promulgated – (i) The Environment Protection (Environmental Standards for Noise) Regulations 2022 which provide for three categories of noise and their respective permissible level, namely industrial, neighbourhood and power station. The primary sources of noise nuisances include playing of loud music, machinery

35 used in workshops, nightclubs and entertainment centres operating at night, particularly those located in densely populated residential areas, and (ii) the Environment Protection (Control of Noise) Regulations 2022 which, inter alia, enhance enforcement, facilitate prompt action, and reduce lengthy legal procedures. A fixed penalty system with a fine of Rs10,000 was introduced for the offence of noise pollution constituting a nuisance. Madam Speaker, in addition to its main office in Port Louis, the Police de l’Environnement has been decentralised in seven divisions across the island to enhance its operational effectiveness and efficiency to ensure that they work closely with the community in their role to protect the environment. It also operates a hotline to receive complaints. The unit also carries out night patrols to monitor noise and disturbances around places of entertainment, as I said, such as night clubs, restaurants, pubs, private clubs, and bungalows. Presently, the Police de l’Environnement is manned by 37 Police Officers who are deployed in seven teams and has eight vehicles to cover the whole island. The number of contraventions for the offence of causing noise constituting a nuisance has increased significantly from 52 in 2021 to 138 in 2024. Since the beginning of this year to date, 60 such contraventions have been established by the Police de l’Environnement. Since the number of cases is clearly on the rise, the Police are considering strengthening their resources to better educate the public through awareness campaigns and for greater intervention on the ground.

Thank you. Your next question!

I have a supplementary.

You have a supplementary, yes!

Madam Speaker, the hon. Prime Minister will agree that four officers spread along three Police shifts; so, during one shift, one Police Officer is not nearly enough, especially in regions like in the north, where we have around 12 public beaches plus night clubs, restaurants, etc. Therefore, will he consider firstly, like the question asked, reinforcing the ranks of the Police de l'Environnement significantly so that it can work as is expected?

Madam Speaker, I have just said that.

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I have a second question, Madam Speaker. Pending the reinforcement to occur, will the hon. Prime Minister ensure that more Police Stations are equipped with noise detectors so that they may enforce the laws without having to wait for the Police de l'Environnement, for example, to issue a contravention, subject to having a noise detector emittance to ascertain that the person is in contravention? Will he consider equipping those Police Stations immediately, pending the reinforcements?

This is something we could consider, but the Police de l'Environnement already have the equipment.

Yes, but, Madam Speaker, …

Yes, I understood the question.

If I may, Madam Speaker. We have established there is only one per shift. Therefore, pending that it is reinforced, a simple solution now would be to equip the Police Stations…

Do not tell the hon. Prime Minister what to do! Ask him a question!

But that is the question: whether he will consider.

Hon. Prime Minister, would you like to elaborate?

I can’t say that I have understood the question. I thought I already answered it. But, say it again, I will…

Let me rephrase! The question, hon. Prime Minister, from what I think I understand, is whether we can give this type of equipment to Police Stations, not to Police de l'Environnement. Is that the question?

I am not sure that…

Clearly, they are understaffed. Pending a reinforcement at the level of the Police de l'Environnement and given the number of cases on the rise, will the hon. Prime Minister – it is an easy fix – ensure that more Police Stations are equipped with noise detectors so that they can enforce the law?

That is what I have just said!

It will be for the Police de l'Environnement to go and check.

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(Interruptions)

Chut, hon. Jhummun!

It is not the Police Officers in the Station who go and check; it is the Police de l'Environnement.

Sa kantite tapaz de happy-hour lamem sa!

Chut! Let us go to your next question! MOTORCYCLES – HELMETS, MODIFIED LOUD EXHAUSTS & LICENSE PLATES – CRACKDOWN OPERATIONS