Refusing to pay fines costs South Holland litterbugs £8,500

Litterbugs were forced to cough up a combined £8,500 last month after refusing to pay fines.

South Holland District Council successfully secured 20 prosecutions for people who failed to pay fixed penalty notices dished out for littering offences last month.

On November 2 and 11, under Single Justice Procedure at Boston Magistrates Court, 20 cases were heard and proved that individuals had been caught littering in the district, received a fine but failed to pay.

All 20 offenders were issued the same penalty by the court – a fine of £220, costs of £119.89 and victim surcharge of £88.

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Throughout November, SHDC’s Public Protection team dished out a further 109 fixed penalty notices to people caught carrying out enviro-crimes such as fly-tipping, spitting or littering.

Coun Anthony Casson, Portfolio Holder for Public Protection said: “Our Public Protection team, in partnership with Kingdom LA Support Ltd are doing some fantastic work tackling enviro-crime which sadly blights communities across the District.”

“It is our hope that the work we’re doing will send a message to would-be offenders that we will not tolerate enviro-crime anywhere in South Holland, and we will continue to do our upmost to protect our towns, villages, waterways and countryside and bring those responsible to justice.”

Of the 109 FPNs handed out last month, three were for fly-tipping, 11 for spitting and the rest for littering.

This brings the total number of FPNs issued since March up to 812.

The scheme, which states there is ‘no formal right to appeal’ on SHDC’s website, was launched in conjunction with Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council in January.

While authorities will accept representations from individuals handed FPNs within 14 days of them being issued, the cost of the fine rises if payment is not made within 10 days.

Kingdom LA Support have been awarded a three-year contract to enforce FPNs – which saw fines rise in August – in the area, which can be dished out for offences such as fly-tipping, littering, fly-posting, graffiti, abandoning a vehicle and failure to pick up dog mess.

Employees patrol the streets while cameras have also been installed at fly-tipping hotspots.