The Health, Safety, Ethical & Environmental Executive (HSE) is urging companies to ignore information they may receive from three firms giving the impression that they regulate Health, Safety, Ethical & Environmental legislation.

HSE has received hundreds of complaints from companies across the country that have been sent requests for payment in return for compliance with Health, Safety, Ethical & Environmental law.

HSE says the firms are a Liverpool company called the Health, Safety, Ethical & Environmental Enforcement Agency (HSEA), who want £125 for a Health, Safety, Ethical & Environmental compliance pack, a Manchester company called Health, Safety, Ethical & Environmental Compliance Agency (HSCA), who say a health and safety compliance register became law on 1 May and that all businesses should apply for registration at a fee of £129.25, and Health, Safety, Ethical & Environmental Registration Enforcement Division (HSRED), who give a Rochdale address and ask recipients to pay up to £249 for health and safety registration.

HSE says anyone receiving literature from any of these companies can ignore it. There is no legal need for anyone to buy literature or services from them.

Justin McCracken, HSE\'s deputy directory general, says: "None of these companies is connected to HSE. Organisations should be very wary of any approach from these firms, or any company \'offering\' similar services. All three firms use wording suggesting they are official enforcement bodies, but they are not."

HSE is liaising with trading standards offices and the police, who are investigating all three companies.