CCTV and Littering

[Oneeyedvic]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7468430.stm

Sir Simon said: "Parliament clearly intended that councils should use the new powers, and generally they are being used to respond to residents' complaints about fly tippers, rogue traders and those defrauding the council tax or housing benefit system."

Sir Simon identifies dog fouling and littering as examples of two offences in which the act's powers were not "necessary and proportionate".

What is the difference between littering and fly tipping and do you see them as totally different?

Personally, I am happy for both of those to be 'spied' upon and for fines to be given to those that do litter.

[IggyB]

i think of littering as dropping a small amount of rubbish a person could carry or stick in their pocket and fly tipping as turning up somewhere with a car / van full of stuff and leaving it rather than going to the dump.

i understand peoples hesitation and worry that councils are using these powers for such crimes as one of the concerns a lot of people had over the terrorism legislation is mandate shift e.g. the detention of peaceful protestors under terrorism legislation or arresting old men at labour conferences because they shout "rubbish" at jack straw... in other words this spying on citizens - many of whom must be completely innocent of any crimes does feel like the proverbial "thin end of the wedge"

[brionon]

Personally, I am happy for both of those to be 'spied' upon and for fines to be given to those that do litter.

Oneeyedvic Mon 23/06/08 10:36

Me too,mate.

[sp1814]

Every time I come back from a holiday - especially in France or the US, I'm depressed by the state of the streets of London.

This may sound a bit strong - but we seem to have developed into a country of pigs who literally can't see the swill we live in.

It's horrible.

Not dropping litter is easy. It's an absolute no brainer.

By the way, I think that fly tipping should also include those people who think that the pavement is the right place to leave sofas, mattresses and old tellies that they can't be bothered to take to the local tip.

Inexcusable.

[jno]

a bit weird for the government to say 'We're going to give you wide powers but you mustn't use them'. Yes, use anti-terrorist laws to catch flytippers. (Though I'd add for sp1814's consideration the fact that round our way it is our custom to put old - but perfectly serviceable - furniture on the pavement with a note inviting anyone interested to help themselves. Someone always takes whatever it is: recycling at work.)