Those guilty of fly tipping are “laughing all the way to the bank” as penalties are not strong enough to deter them according to a senior Liverpool politician.
It was announced earlier this week how the UK Government was to put down legislation to increase the upper limits for fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for those caught fly-tipping, littering and graffiti, and household waste offences. Under the plans, guilty dumpers face a penalty that has more than doubled – from £400 to £1,000.
Litterers would be hit with a £500 fine while other offences will be sanctioned with a £600 penalty.
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Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins, Liverpool Council cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said while increased penalties were welcome, they did not go far enough. She said how those guilty would be “laughing all the way to the bank.”
The Labour member said: “The environmental crime team is working much better across the council and we’re going to be looking at issues like how skips are dealt with as well. It’s something I’m keen to continue and we’re really pulling together on this.”
Addressing the messy scenes in the south of the city left as students leave for the summer, Cllr Robertson-Collins said the council was keen to “hold landlords to account and be a lot stronger” moving forward.
The Local Government Association (LGA) made its feelings known on the uplift in fines, calling for the cap to be lifted all together. Cllr Darren Rodwell, environment spokesperson for the LGA, said: “It is positive to see Government listening to councils on the need for flexibility and to determine locally whether to increase fines.
“However, these new powers do not go far enough, councils want to see this cap removed altogether. We want to work with Government on reviewing guidance to the courts to ensure the worst offenders face tougher fines, and to ensure councils have the funding needed to investigate and prosecute fly-tippers.
“Councils want courts to look at fly-tipping as an offence first, rather than at the individual and their ability to pay, as well as more use of suspended sentences, or custodial sentences for anyone convicted of a second fly-tipping offence. But paramount to all of this is the fact that councils needs a stable financial environment so that they can afford to employ officers to develop litter strategies and put the best local actions in place.”
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