Councils given power to almost double fines handed to ‘litter louts’

Councils in England will from today be able to almost double the maximum on-the-spot fine for littering.



Under measures announced by the Government last October, local authorities will be able to demand a payment of £150, up from £80, for littering and graffiti.

Ministers say the rise intends to claw back some of the hundreds of millions of pounds a year spent in tidying “avoidable litter”.

They say the £682m shelled out last year to clean up dropped rubbish could have been “better spent in the community”.

The move comes after a public consultation last year found that nine in ten respondents favoured an increase in the penalty.

The Government warns however that authorities must use the powers responsibly and urged council leaders to account for the amount local residents are able to pay.

Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said: “These new fines will tackle antisocial behaviour by hitting litter louts in the pocket, whether it’s litter that is thrown from a vehicle or dropped in the street.

“Littering is a scourge on our environment and we waste taxpayers’ money cleaning it up – funds which could be better spent in the community.

“We want to be the first generation to leave our environment in a better state than we found it, and I encourage everyone to take responsibility for their litter and recycle more.”

The Local Government Association’s Environment spokesman, Cllr Martin Tett, said: "Councils being able to issue increased fines to litter louts, who show no consideration for the community they live in, will send a strong message to those who think their laziness is more important than the environment in which they live."