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It is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to litter by ‘dropping, throwing, depositing or leaving anything that might cause defacement in a public place’.
Litter is an eyesore and can attract others to litter in the same area. Litter can be anything from a cigarette butt to a bag of rubbish. Anyone caught Littering can be prosecuted and made to pay a fine. The Council also has the power to issue 'on the spot' Fixed Penalty Notices of £80 - this is a one-off fine which can be offered as an alternative to prosecution.
The Council has a direct link to the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for use with littering so that if anyone is seen littering from a car or subsequently driving a car away from the site of the littering, we can use the number plate to trace the owner and take enforcement action.
If you witness someone dropping litter, please make a note of the date, time and exact location, as well as what was dropped, a description of the person and any details you know about them (number plate and car details, name & address etc) before contacting the Council using the details below.
Litter and the Law - a guide for the public (PDF, 508kb) |