Environmental crimes such as littering and fly-tipping are often the subject of concerns raised with John by constituents. John was therefore pleased to receive news of increases in the upper limit of Fixed Penalty Notices for these crimes which will give greater power to local councils in their enforcement.

The upper limit of Fixed Penalty Notices for littering, graffiti and fly-posting offences will increase from £150 to £500; for household waste duty of care offences from £400 to £600; and for fly-tipping offences from £400 to £1,000. The increases come into effect from the end of this July.  

John said: “I am sure that the news that the upper limits for Fixed Penalty Notices for littering and fly tipping have been increased will be welcome by constituents. I know that environmental crimes like these are of concern to many. I hope the increased fines will act as a greater deterrent to those who blight the countryside with their waste.

This is part of the Prime Minister’s Antisocial Behaviour Action Plan which was launched in March. The Action Plan sets out the government’s approach to stamping out anti-social behaviour and restoring the right of people to feel safe in, and proud of, their local area. It is an ambitious and wide-reaching new approach that will give Police and Crime Commissioners, local authorities, and other agencies the tools to tackle the blight of anti-social behaviour facing communities across England and Wales.

The Government wants to see councils making the most of these new levels but also wants to ensure that they are used appropriately. They should not be exploited for profit, targeted at accidental littering or to punish those who are trying to do the right thing when education would be a better approach. This is set out in the gidance produced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on effective enforcement for littering which the Government has committed to putting on a firm statutory footing, giving those to which it applies a clear and explicit duty to have regard to it when exercising their enforcement functions. The Government is also looking at ringfencing the money raised from these fines for enforcement and clean up activity.