Bradford Council has said people who neglected to pay on the spot fines for dropping litter have been handed criminal records.
Private Enforcement Officers operate in Bradford, handing out £80 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) to people who drop litter – including cigarette ends and chewing gum and spitting – or allow their dogs to foul.
While many people subsequently paid the £80, others ignored the demand and were taken to court by Bradford Council.
On 27 March, Bradford Magistrates imposed a total of £21,868 in fines, £16,675 costs and £3,120 Victim Surcharge on 105 people convicted of littering offences.
That works out at a bill of just under £400 for each person and the unwelcome addition of a criminal record against their name.
Ian Day, Bradford Council Assistant Director for Neighbourhoods and Customer Service, said: “The message is clear, don’t drop litter if you don’t want to get a Fixed Penalty Notice but if you do get one, don’t ignore it because it won’t go away.
“The last thing we want is for people to get a criminal record but if behaviour doesn’t change, this is a likely outcome. If you are caught dropping litter, and you don’t pay the £80, then you may end up with a much more painful bill.
“Any income received by the Council from the FPNs is reinvested in street cleaning services so the people who drop litter are helping to pay for it to be picked up.”
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