Islington brings in on-the-spot £400 fines for fly-tipping

Islington Council has become one of the first local authorities in the country to introduce on-the-spot fines of up to £400 for fly tippers. 

 

The council has adopted new powers to issue ‘Fixed Penalty Notices’ (FPNs) to those who dump litter.  

 

It means the council can issue on-the-spot fines of up to £400 – reduced to £200 if the penalty is paid within 10 days’ notice.

 

Figures show that over 4,000 fly tips were recorded in the borough in the last financial year. This figure peaked to 5,000 in the 2013-14 financial year.

 

Islington Council’s executive member for environment and transport, Cllr Claudia Webbe, said: “The vast majority of people who live and work in Islington take great pride in our beautiful borough.

 

“But fly-tipping is still a serious and selfish problem, which is unsightly, hazardous, and can attract pests such as rats and mice, and which spoils the enjoyment of the borough for all.

 

“On-the-spot fines give us a much faster and more direct way of taking action against those fly-tippers who blight our borough.”

 

FPNs are just one of a number of ways in which Islington Council tackles fly-tipping. Others include educational programmes for residents and businesses, and both high visibility and covert patrols. 

 

Previously, the council would resort to court action, in response to instances of fly-tipping, but this can be a long and expensive process. 

 

The introduction of FPNs do not prevent the council from prosecuting offenders. In serious and persistent cases of fly-tipping the council will continue to take court action, where appropriate, which can result in much bigger fines.