300+ fines for littering and other offences

300+ fines for littering and other offences

North East Lincolnshire Council has fined more than 300 people for messing up the borough since 1 April.

A total of 164 fixed penalty notices were given for littering, 95 for littering from vehicles and 29 for dog control offences.

In addition, 18 fines were given for fly-tipping, eight for waste carrier offences and one for an abandoned vehicle.

The fines were issued between 1 April and 27 May 2022.

Fixed penalty notices are an alternative to prosecution and offenders are given 14 days to pay.

Anyone who chooses not to pay a fine can be taken to court and prosecuted for the original offence.

Councillor Ron Shepherd, cabinet member for Safer and Stronger Communities at North East Lincolnshire Council, said:

“Most people want their streets, parks and beaches to be clean, safe and attractive places to visit and enjoy.

“If you choose to mess up the borough by dropping litter, not picking up after your dog or illegally dumping waste, we will fine you.

“Enforcement officers are here to protect the environment and act as a deterrent to the minority of people who think it’s fine to leave their rubbish for someone else to clear up.

“We’ve fined more than 300 people in only two months and we will pursue those who make the place look a mess.”

A further four fines were issued for cycling in the town centre and three for smoking in a commercial vehicle during the same period.

Council officers regularly work with other enforcement agencies to tackle offences such as fly-tipping.

In April, they teamed up with Humberside Police, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as part of a crackdown against unlicensed waste carriers.

Earlier in the year, environmental enforcement officers sent warnings to 38 households in Grimsby’s East Marsh for repeatedly messing up their streets.

North East Lincolnshire Council started working with Doncaster Council to introduce private patrols for litter and dog fouling in November 2018. Officers from Local Authority Support carry out patrols and gather evidence, which is passed on to Doncaster Council who issue the fixed penalties on behalf of North East Lincolnshire Council.

Early in 2019, officers enforced against other dog control offences covered by a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). Officers also started fining people for cycling in the pedestrian zone in Grimsby town centre in July 2019. 

PSPOs are due to be renewed and a public consultation about them closed on Friday 10 June.

Council enforcement officers investigate other matters such as fly-tipping and waste carrier offences.

Article and images from NELC.

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