Fines for littering are set for large increases including a 233 per cent rise in the punishment for fly tippping.
It was announced at last week’s meeting of South Holland District Council that the on-the-spot fines that can be given out by the Enviro Crime team it employs can be increased following a change in national legislation.
The fine for fly tipping will go from £400 to £1,000 in a 150 per cent increase, while the cost of littering will double from £150 to £300.
Anyone found to be guilty of graffiti will have to pay £500, up from the previous level of £150.
Coun Anthony Casson, South Holland District Council’s portfolio holder for public protection, said at the meeting:
“A decision notice is being prepared to increase the fines for Fixed Penalty Notices for environmental offences including littering, fly-tipping and graffiti following a review.
“This follows a previous review undertaken in 2023 where fines were increased, and changes in legislation which have raised the maximum penalty available for these offences.”
One person the district council and South Holland Police haven’t been able to identify as of yet is a graffiti tagger named Buck, though following a police appeal for information, Coun Casson said the tagging has stopped.
“Currently the police have not received any information with regard to the identification of the tagger from the first appeal,” he said. “Safer Communities Officers are liaising with police colleagues to continue with the appeal for information to identify this offender and once they have been identified will be arrested and dealt with accordingly for the criminal damage.
“Since the police appeal was launched with regard to this offender, we have not had any further reports of the tag “Buck” reported to us.
“Depot colleagues have removed two pieces of graffiti that were deemed offensive from private properties and the “Buck” graffiti that was put on the bus station shelters.
“Only graffiti deemed “offensive” can either be removed by ourselves or requested to be removed by the owner and then if refused to be removed, or not removed after a period of time given, then we can use Community Protection Notice powers made under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2023.
“For a graffiti on private properties that is classified as not “offensive” by our Safer Communities managers the council has no powers available to order or request removal.”
