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Litter droppers forced to pay up on fines

Jan 29 2012 Sunday Sun

LITTER droppers have had to pay more than a quarter of a million pounds in fines in the last three years, The Sunday Sun can reveal.

Cash-strapped councils are cracking down on offenders by dishing out more charges.

Figures obtained using Freedom of Information laws revealed 1,645 fixed-penalty notices were issued for littering and the misuse of domestic and commercial wheelie bins in the 12 months to September, up from 1,196 two years earlier.

But one local authority, which made the controversial decision to switch to fortnightly bin collections, has quadrupled the number of fines issued in just one year.

Gateshead Council’s blitz on litterbugs in the 12 months to September saw 382 people hit with a penalty, rocketing from just 93 the year before.

Gateshead Council created a six-strong enforcement team to patrol its streets and issue fixed-penalty notices.

John Robinson, group director of local environmental services at the council, said: “We believe in taking robust action to tackle littering.

“Most people who receive such penalties accept that they have done wrong and pay up, but there will always be some who foolishly decide to ignore them.”