1,500 fined for littering in the past two years

OVER 1,500 people have been fined for littering in Nuneaton and Bedworth in the past two years.

Latest data revealed by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council shows how many Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNS) were dished out by litter cops.

A newly-released chart shows that 1,528 people were given FPNS for littering in 2019 and 2020 - and a further 17 have been handed out so far in 2021.

The figures show the number of fines for littering outweighs those given out for fly-tipping, which totalled in at just 12 over the past two years.

Environmental Enforcement Officers (EEO), who wear body cameras, give out FPNS which are £100 on-the-spot fines.

Refusal to pay can lead to court prosecution.

The table shows that in 2019 there were 828 FPNS give out for littering compared to a solitary fine for fly-tipping. In 2020, there were 700 fines given out for littering compared to 11 for flytipping incidents.

Then, last year, there were 37 for flytipping compared to just 17 for littering. This is likely to be down to lockdown meaning less people were out on the streets.

The council has previously come under fire for the littering fines given out by its team of litter wardens.

At one point there was a rise in those caught dropping cigarettes in the town centres.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council joined forces with 3GS in 2019 to provide a daily litter warden service across the borough.

As well as the environment officers, the council now has smart cameras in fly-tipping ‘hot spot’ areas within the borough.

The cameras are designed to detect, and ultimately prosecute, offenders and will be moved and installed around the borough in areas of concern.