Thousands of fines handed out for litter, cycling and dog control
3,334 FIXED PENALTY NOTICES ISSUED IN TOTAL SINCE PATROLS STARTED IN NOVEMBER 2018
THOUSANDS of people have been fined for littering, cycling and dog control offences in North East Lincolnshire in the last two years.
North East Lincolnshire Council introduced private enforcement patrols in November 2018 after claims people wanted to see more enforcement against those who litter and don’t pick up after their dogs.
Officers have issued 3,334 fixed penalty notices in total since patrols started.
Most of the fines handed out were for littering with 2,355 people receiving enforcement notices.
There were 326 fines issued from littering from a vehicle. Some 57 people were fined for not picking up after their dog. E n f o rcement officers patrol every ward in the borough, including parks. Most tickets are given in Grimsby town centre and Cleethorpes beachfront.
Patrols stopped when the national lockdown started resumed on June 16.
October was one of the busiest months on record for the officers as they issued 290 fines for various offences.
Councillor Ron Shepherd, cabinet member for safer and stronger communities at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “Litter makes the place look a mess, it’s harmful to wildlife and first and the environment.
“Nobody wants to see it on our streets, in our parks or on the beach. The same is true of dog fouling. “Most people put litter in a bin and most dog owners take responsibility for their pets, but a small minority don’t. “Enforcement patrols are here to protect the environment and act as a deterrent to litter louts, irresponsible dog owners and those who put others at risk by cycling in the town centre. “They are also a helpful presence on our streets and I’m grateful for the work they do in helping keep the borough tidy.”
A fixed penalty notice (FPN) is an alternative to prosecution and allows 14 days to pay.
Anyone who chooses not to pay a fine can be taken to court.
The most recent court cases saw seven defendants share a court bill of more than £2,200. Fourteen people were prosecuted two weeks earlier for cycling offences and shared a court bill of more than £9,000.
In total, 24 people were convicted in November for cycling in a prohibited cycling zone in breach of a Public Space Protection Order.
Fines issued between November 2018 and the end of October 2020 include:
Litter 2,355
Litter from vehicle 326
PSPO Dogs on beach 140 PSPO No cycling 438
Dog fouling 57
Smoking in a commercial vehicle 18.
Litter makes the place look a mess, it’s harmful to wildlife and the
environment.
Councillor Ron
Shepherd