Local MP, Karen Bradley joined local Conservatives recently at a litter pick in Leek.
Litter blights our towns and roadsides and spoils our enjoyment of the countryside. It is also incredibly expensive, costing local councils hundreds of millions of pounds a year to clear up. Those who drop litter, even if it is just a cigarette end or chewing gum, can be fined or face prosecution.
To tackle the blight of litter, Ministers have published a new National Litter Strategy, which aims to apply best practice in education, enforcement and infrastructure to deliver a substantial reduction in litter and associated behaviour. The aim is to bring about demonstrable improvements in the cleanliness of our country and a cultural shift to make littering socially unacceptable. This has included almost doubling the maximum fixed penalty notice for dropping litter from £80 to £150.
Authorised local authority enforcement officers and Police Community Support Officers have the power to issue fixed penalty notices to anyone caught littering. Local authorities, police and private individuals also have the power to bring prosecutions, and the maximum fine on conviction may be up to £2,500.
Similar rules apply to dog fouling. If it does happen, councils will clear dog foul from public places where they have a legal responsibility. Councils may also put in place measures to control dog fouling, including making it an offence for the person in charge of a dog to fail to clear up its fouling. Anyone who breaches these measures can be prosecuted or issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice of up to £100.
Karen said,
“I was pleased to join local Conservatives litter picking in Leek.
I was amazed at how much litter we collected and would encourage people to not drop litter and keep our towns and countryside clean.”