Litterers ordered to pay fines following prosecution by council
Four people who failed to pay fixed-penalty notices (FPNs) for littering in Welwyn Hatfield have been ordered to pay fines and costs following a court hearing.
A number of other individuals were also issued with FPNs for littering and paid the penalties.
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (WHBC) successfully prosecuted the four offenders who failed to pay the FPNs as part of its ongoing work to tackle environmental crime, working in partnership with Kingdom Local Authority Support (LAS).
During a hearing at East Berkshire Magistrates Court on 5 October, the four individuals were each found guilty of littering offences and fined £110, ordered to pay £120 in court costs plus a £44 victim surcharge.
WHBC works with Kingdom LAS to combat littering and fly-tipping around the borough. Kingdom’s officers focus on preventing fly-tipping, engaging residents and the wider public to change behaviours through education, and, where proportionate and appropriate, issuing enforcement notices such as FPNs.
The council is currently running an anti-littering and anti-fly-tipping campaign to raise awareness of the harms they cause and to inform people of how they can dispose of their waste legally and responsibly.
Councillor Jane Quinton, Executive Member for Environment, said:
“We are proud of our borough’s environment and are working hard to keep our neighbourhoods clean and safe for all our residents.
“Littering, fly-tipping and other environmental crimes blight communities, cause pollution and make people feel unsafe. We will take firm action to tackle offences and will not hesitate to prosecute those found responsible.”
More information on how to dispose of your waste responsibly is available at: https://www.welhat.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling