Close to 800 people have been taken to court for littering following their non-payment of a fixed penalty notice (FPN) over the last six years.
From March 2018 to April 2024, Doncaster Council, working on behalf on North East Lincolnshire Council, have pursued 775 people for littering across the borough.
The penalties issued by the court include a fine, costs and victim surcharges, totalling over £208,000 with offenders paying £366 each on average for littering.
The original fixed penalty notices, issued by Local Authority Support, changed over to the WISE team on December 1, 2023 who operate across the area seven days a week.
Last year alone, officers issued over 1,000 FPNs for littering. Broken down into littering from vehicles and littering on the street, the enforcement team gave out 1,026 fines for those dropping litter on the streets and 96 for those doing so from a vehicle.
Money recouped from the fines is shared between Central Government and those who prepare the legal cases brought before the Magistrates Court.
The fine and victim surcharge is returned to His Majesty’s Treasury whilst the legal costs are given back to those preparing the case for prosecution.
Speaking about the number of fines issued, Councillor Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for safer and stronger communities at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “These figures show exactly how much hard work goes into our enforcement work across the borough.
“It’s important that people understand the rules across North East Lincolnshire and adhere to them and realise if you take no action following a fine the Council will pursue the matter. Our Council plan advocates a zero-tolerance policy and we constantly review how we deliver our enforcement to make sure we can effectively tackle any issues.”
On the aspect of littering, Councillor Stewart Swinburn, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Transport, said: “It might seem like trivial stuff, but it’s not. If we want visitors to come to our area and enjoy it, we need it to look the part. Nobody wants to visit a town centre if there’s litter everywhere.”
He added: “We’ve also had the WiSE team out in our town centres and our high streets patrolling these areas, and stopping people for things like littering.
“It does feel sometimes like a never-ending cycle, but we are making progress.”
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