Litter And the Law (a guide for the public)
Litter can be as small as a sweet wrapper, cigarette end or a chewing gum and also be as large as a bag of rubbish. It can also refer to lots of items scattered about. Everyone has a responsibility to deal with litter in an acceptable way whether as a statutory duty or a moral obligation. Areas continually degraded by litter, or land that frequently accumulates litter and refuse, can give rise to a sense of civic shame and set the scene for other environmental crimes and anti-social behaviour. Not only is it anti-social and unpleasant, littering is also ILLEGAL, and those who throw down, drop, or deposit and leave litter in any place can be fined or face a court prosecution.
Disposing of litter inappropriately is unacceptable. Littering is not just an offence in public places such as shopping and recreation areas, pavements, public spaces and car parks, but on any private land, as well as land covered by water, as long as it is open to the air. It costs local authorities and other duty bodies £540 million per year to clean and clear streets of litter and refuse every year.
LAW
Litter laws are set out (principally) in the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990 and its scope was extended by the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 where new powers and enforcement measures became available to tackle a range of environmental crimes affecting local environmental quality.
The offence of Leaving Litter is described in Section 87 and 88 of the EPA 1990 where a person is guilty if they throw down, drop or otherwise deposit any litter in any place in the area of a principal litter authority which is open to the air to which the public has access with or without payment, and leaves it may be liable for a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) or face prosecution.
FINES
Certain officers, including Police, Community Support Officers, and authorised officers of a local authority (Wardens) may issue a FPN for a litter offence under section 88 of the EPA 1990, as an alternative to prosecution. If you have information about a littering incident, you should report it to the Police, a Warden or Leicester City Council, and it is up to them to decide whether they wish to proceed any further.
A FPN is currently set at £80 and if the offender chooses not to pay, then a court summons is issued and the offender is prosecuted in a court, and if convicted, they may be fined up to level 4 on the standard scale which is currently set to £2,500 for each offence.
NOTICE OF LITTERING
It is an offence to drop litter in this cemetery. A person found guilty can face prosecution and be fined up to £2,500. Plastic bottles or containers for watering plants other than watering cans can be blown about and be an eyesore and food that is left for birds all contributes to the defacement of this special place.
We all need to work together to ensure the Cemetery is in a fit and proper state for all users.
Disposing of litter inappropriately is unacceptable. Littering is not just an offence in public places such as shopping and recreation areas, pavements, public spaces and car parks, but on any private land, as well as land covered by water, as long as it is open to the air. It costs local authorities and other duty bodies £540 million per year to clean and clear streets of litter and refuse every year.
LAW
Litter laws are set out (principally) in the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990 and its scope was extended by the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 where new powers and enforcement measures became available to tackle a range of environmental crimes affecting local environmental quality.
The offence of Leaving Litter is described in Section 87 and 88 of the EPA 1990 where a person is guilty if they throw down, drop or otherwise deposit any litter in any place in the area of a principal litter authority which is open to the air to which the public has access with or without payment, and leaves it may be liable for a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) or face prosecution.
FINES
Certain officers, including Police, Community Support Officers, and authorised officers of a local authority (Wardens) may issue a FPN for a litter offence under section 88 of the EPA 1990, as an alternative to prosecution. If you have information about a littering incident, you should report it to the Police, a Warden or Leicester City Council, and it is up to them to decide whether they wish to proceed any further.
A FPN is currently set at £80 and if the offender chooses not to pay, then a court summons is issued and the offender is prosecuted in a court, and if convicted, they may be fined up to level 4 on the standard scale which is currently set to £2,500 for each offence.
NOTICE OF LITTERING
It is an offence to drop litter in this cemetery. A person found guilty can face prosecution and be fined up to £2,500. Plastic bottles or containers for watering plants other than watering cans can be blown about and be an eyesore and food that is left for birds all contributes to the defacement of this special place.
We all need to work together to ensure the Cemetery is in a fit and proper state for all users.