Environmental crimes can have a negative impact on the lives of our citizens in the borough.
Since the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 became law, new measures have been introduced, allowing local councils to fine anyone committing an environmental crime that damages the street scene.
Our enforcement team patrol the borough on a daily basis to ensure our streets are kept clean and safe and can issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for a wide range of offences including:
- littering
- dog fouling
- unlicensed scaffolding and skips
- pavement and road obstructions.
FPNs will also be issued for failure to comply with terms and conditions of licences for skips and scaffolding.
Our officers are trained to carry out enforcement in the borough and to promote our ambition for cleaner, greener and safer neighbourhoods.
What offences can FPNs be given for?
Environmental crimes
FPNs for environmental crimes must be paid within 14 days from the date of issue. If you can't pay within this time and you haven't provided reasonable grounds for non-payment, we may refer your case for prosecution at a magistrate’s court.
If this happens you could get a fine of up to £1,000 for dog fouling and £2,500 for littering.
| Offence | Description | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Littering on the public highway and littering from a vehicle | It is an offence to litter. Examples of littering include food packaging, cigarette butts and chewing gum. | £100 statutory fee with no reduction offered |
| Dog fouling | If your dog fouls in a public place, it is an offence if you fail to pick it up. | £50 |
| Spitting | It is an offence to spit on any open public space. | £80 |
| Urinating | It is an offence to urinate in public. | £80 |
Highway offences
Anyone issued with a highways FPN has 28 days to pay the £100 fine.
If it's paid within 14 days, the level of the penalty is reduced to £50.
If the penalty is not paid within the 28 day period, legal proceedings for the offence may be started. There is no appeals process. Failure to pay will result in prosecution and a maximum penalty of £1,000 on conviction.
All highway offences are criminal offences.
The table below shows a full range of highway offences for which highways Fixed Penalty Notices may be issued.
| Offence | Description | Section in Highways Act 1980 |
|---|---|---|
| H1 | Willful obstruction of the highway | Section 137(1) |
| H2 | Depositing anything on the highway to the interruption of user | Section 148(c) |
| H3 | Depositing materials on a made-up carriageway | Section 148(a) |
| H4 | Depositing materials within 15 feet from centre of made-up carriageway | Section 148(b) |
| H5 | Pitching of booths, stalls or stands or encamping on highway | Section 148(d) |
| H6 | Failure to comply with notice requiring works to prevent soil or refuse escaping onto street or into sewer | Section 151(3) |
| H7 | Failure to comply with notice requiring removal of projection from buildings | Section 152(4) |
| H8 | Depositing things on highway which cause injury or danger | Section 161(1) |
| H9 | Erecting scaffolding or other structure without licence or failing to comply with terms of licence or perform duty under subsection(4) | Section 169(5) |
| H10 | Depositing builder’s skip on highway without permission | Section 139(3) |
| H11 | Failure to secure lighting or other marking of builder’s skip | Section 139(4)(a) |
| H12 | Failure to secure marking of builder's skip with name and address | Section 139 (4)(b) |
| H13 | Failure to secure removal of builder's skip | Section 139(4)(c) |
| H14 | Failure to comply with conditions of permission | Section 139(4)(d) |
| H15 | Failure to remove or reposition builder's skip | Section 140(3) |
Can I appeal a FPN?
The legislation that governs fixed penalty notices means that a person who receives a FPN can challenge it in court if for any reason, they believe the penalty should not have been issued to them.
Paying the FPN is an invitation for you to discharge your liability to prosecution. This means that whilst this is not an admission of your guilt, you do agree that an offence has been committed. By paying the fine, no further action will be taken by us or on our behalf.
If you decide to pay for the FPN instead of challenging it in court, payment can be made by following the notes on the reverse of the notice. Please note that we are unable to accept payments by instalments.
What happens if I don't pay the FPN?
If you don't pay the FPN within 14 days from the date of issue and you have not provided reasonable grounds for non-payment, we may refer your case for prosecution at a magistrate’s court.
If this happens you could get a fine of up to £1,000 for dog fouling and £2,500 for littering.