£2k anti-social behaviour fines
Sunderland City Council say they are ‘clamping down’ on anti-social behaviour after two residents were ordered to pay a combined total of £1,896.
Two residents in Sunderland have been ordered by South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court to pay fines as the Council ‘clamp down’ on anti-social behaviour.
Hetton resident Stephen Fraser, of Derwent Street, was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £285 costs and a £100 victim surcharge after failing to cooperate with an investigation into waste found dumped in the car park at Station Road, HettoninSeptemberlastyear.
The waste included building renovation materials, wooden planks and bricks also contained letters relating to an address on North Road and further enquiries established thatMrFraserhadbeenpaidto remove the waste legally.
Sunderland City Council say Mr Fraser was given the opportunity to explain how the waste got there in an interview under caution but did notattendthisorasubsequent invitation to an interview underSection108oftheEnvironment
Act 1995. A second city resident, Carla Crompton, of Dene Street, Sunderland was fined £40 and ordered to pay clean-up costs of £69.64, a victim surcharge of £34 and costs of £368 after household waste dumped in the back lane behind her home in July 2020, wastracedbacktoheraddress.
Council chiefs say Miss Crompton was given the chancetoexplainhowthefour bags of waste including used nappies, broken glass, tin cans and food waste got there in an interview under caution, but chose not to respond.
Nor did she pay the subsequent fixed penalty notice despite several reminder letters, resulting in her being taken to court.
In the last 24 months, the City Council has carried out 385 fly-tipping investigations, 78 fixed-penalty notices and 13 successful prosecutions, resulting in fines totalling £10,050.
The Council say the money has been used to help pay towards the costs of cleaning up litter and fly-tipping, keeping highways clean, and enforcement against littering graffiti and fly-posting.
Cllr Claire Rowntree, Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "We’re extremely pleased with the fine levels, which send a very clear message that failure to provide assistance in fly-tipping investigations can result in a hefty fine."