Private Firms-

[brionon]

Hired to fine litter bugs. I haven't lived in Blighty for years-My question is How do they know who you are ? They issue a fine to be paid within 10 days,how do they enforce it ?

[Old_Geezer]

Good to tackle the litter habit. My concern would be if the councils have enough budget to pay a 3rd party who need to make a profit, why don't they pay less to cover the task themselves ? If they have that sort of money going spare they can turn my street lamps back on again when I get back home in the early hours.

[Buenchico]

It's a criminal offence not to provide a correct name and address to an authorised enforcement officer who is seeking to issue a fixed penalty notice. (The Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005).

Enforcement officers will ask for proof of name and address (such as a driving licence). If in doubt, (since littering is a criminal offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990) they can call upon the help of police officers (and PCSOs).

Failure to pay an FPN, within the required time period, will lead to criminal prosecution.

[pdq1]

As long as they're not taken down to the nearest cash machine, one of Blair's ideas.

[brionon]

You don't need an ID card,you don't own a Car-What is Proof of name and address ?

[Buenchico]

Firstly, the police database could be consulted. Secondly, when a person is suspected of committing a criminal offence and their identity can't be firmly established, the police may detain that person at a police station until such time as they're certain who they are. (Many police officers also carry portable fingerprint devices, which can check within seconds whether a person is on the Police National Computer. Given that 35% of all British males acquire a criminal record before the age of 30, and that those guilty of anti-social behaviour [such as littering] are probably more likely to have a criminal record than others, there's a reasonable chance that they can be quickly identified).

[emmie]

whilst i agree about not littering up the place, i watched the programme about it and wondered how it is that each local council has outsourced this to private firms, and in most cases they have increased the fines a thousand fold. Which seems rather like the parking scams they operate, and don't particularly care for what seems like vigilante types wandering around our streets, why don't the council do it themselves instead of outsourcing. As many of those caught out, one for dropping a cigarette butt, elicited an on the spot fine of 80 quid, licence to print money.

[youngmafbog]

The problem arises when 'litter' is dropped that is not litter e.g. a bank card as in one case.

The money should go back to central government and private companies should NOT be involved. Upholding the law is a public service and should not be used to make money.

[Dodger666]

OG

According to my paper, councils are not obliged to pay for the service. The company http://www.xfor.co.uk/las issuing the fines keeps the bulk of it. Two councils pay the company by the hour and keep the fines. One council who agreed to pay £45 per ticket issued lost out because lots of the fines went unpaid.

Personally I'm all for it as long as it doesn't cost the council taxpayer any extra. They could also use the scheme to catch the other anti social people who bring their dogs to mess outside other people houses and on public open spaces then leave it there. Both litter and dog mess is a problem in our local area.

[brionon]

So if I drop litter and freely give my name and address (which might be false) this won't be accepted and the Police will be called ?

[Old_Geezer]

You'll have to give your neighnbour's name and address.

If it is basically allowing an independent company decide for themselves who is guilty and act as both judge and jury, this is not a comfortable thing to allow. Do they film the incident ? Does dog mess count as litter ?

[Dodger666]

"Does dog mess count as litter?"

In my opinion dog mess is far worse than litter. Owners who let their mutts pollute the public open spaces deserve harsher penalties than litter louts. If owners knew they were likely to get a hefty fine for doing it, our public open spaces might be free for the general public to enjoy without permanently looking where they put their feet.