Mrs Bird was the Chief Officer for the environmental health department at Weatherfield Council. They had been alerted to the existence of Mary Taylor's motorhome in the area by Todd Grimshaw in revenge for being refused credit in the corner shop by Mary and he was the first one to see Mrs Bird examining and photographing the van. Mary came on the scene and she was told that she was investigating the van as a suspected illegal encampment under Section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Mrs Bird came to the conclusion that Mary was in breach of the act and smilingly dropped a subtle hint to Mary that a neighbour had reported her. She was unable to say what the penalty would be as there were so many variables with one exception - Mary had to find a new home.