Litter bugs face fines up to £150 in Christchurch after BCP Council enlists Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement

A BIG clampdown on litterbugs in Christchurch will see offenders hit with an on-the-spot fine of up to £150.

BCP Council will be sending patrols out from 20th March in an effort to tackle “environmental criminals”.

The authority has contracted Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement (WISE), which already deals with flytipping in the BCP region.

If an individual is caught littering, an enforcement officer from WISE will serve a fixed penalty notice of £150, which will be reduced to £75 if paid within 14 days.

FPNs can be issued for dropping litter of any kind, including sweet wrappers, crisp packets, chewing gum, cigarette butts and discarded items from vehicles.

In a move to be “cost-neutral”, a percentage of each fine issued will be reinvested back into the littering prevention service.

Cllr Bobbie Dove, conservative portfolio holder for community safety and regulatory services, said: “This new approach is a direct and proactive response to the feedback we’ve received from residents who are tired of seeing people littering in this beautiful part of the country.

“Littering is a crime, and I’m saddened that a small minority of people think it is acceptable to drop litter across our town and district centres, green spaces and beaches.”

She said research had shown the adverse impact it has on the environment, saying: “We must take a stronger stance to protect our local area.

“We know that small items of rubbish, like crisp packets and plastic bottles, take decades to decompose and leave toxins in the ground for many years after.”

Cllr Dove said she hoped the new fines would be a “strong deterrent”.

“We’re absolutely clear; your waste is your duty,” she said. “We must all take responsibility and do the right thing and use litter bins if available or take our rubbish home with us.

“This problem is region wide, not just isolated to our town centres, and that’s why WISE have powers to patrol any public land across our region.”

Cllr Dove also praised community groups who litter pick around Christchurch.

John Dunne, managing director of WISE, said: “Dropping litter is not only anti-social, it is a crime.

“Our company’s proven track record shows that we do have a positive impact and our officers are proud of the work they do in deterring people from flytipping, flyposting and littering.”