Council Reviews It Fixed Penalty Notice Fines
22 Jul 2010
Stoke-on-Trent city council will ask its cabinet on 29 July to consider a new level of fixed penalty notice fines as well as introducing a consent scheme for printed materials.
These changes are necessary as a deterrent against anti-social behaviour and to help people feel safer in their communities.
The new fines will be specifically targeted at 'environmental crime enforcement' and to help control the free distribution of printed material that litters the streets of the city. These environmental crimes include; waste offences like fly-tipping, dog fouling, graffiti and fly posting to name a few.
Councillor Terry Follows, cabinet member for environmental services commented:
"Environmental crimes are seen as anti-social behaviour. Also in my view cleaning up after environmental crime is expensive and is an unnecessary burden on the tax payer."
Since January 2010 the council set up an 'Environmental Crimes Unit. For some offences, the law permits councils to set the fixed penalty amount within tolerances. This report will ask cabinet to reset this to the statutory maximum, signalling a tougher approach on environmental crimes.
The recipients will have 14 days to pay the fine or face prosecution. The councils is also considering offering a reduce penalty notice if the fine is paid within 7 days.
Litter, unauthorised distribution of literature, graffiti and fly posting will rise from £50 to £80.
One thing's for sure the
One thing's for sure the carpark outside the viccy Hall must be making a mint.
It used to be free to park after 6PM, at least it was at christmas..
We went there the other day to see the show St Peters did and got a ticket because they have introduced a £1 charge to park after 6.PM Bloody RobDogs.
Would it be possible from
Would it be possible from someone from the "Environmental Crime Unit' to tell us how much has been raised by the prosecution of "litter laws"? I refer specifically to The dropping of cigarette ends and small items of litter of that nature.
Your activities in this area are not very apparent to the casual observer, far from it, the litter seems to get worse. I suggest a walk around the 'bus station, at £80 an item, we have sufficient cigarette ends to fund the policing of this measure, for twelve months in a period of one day. And as the city is hardly ever cleaned (A high pressure hose needs to be employed at five o' clock ,every morning) the place stinks of nicotine.and most areas are unpleasant with cig ends, chewing gum,fry boxes, polystyrene containers half full of kebab meat chips and gravy.
"The unauthorised
"The unauthorised distribution of literature"?
They'll be taking action against anyone whose home doesn't have a TV ariel, Sky dish or Virgin box next - very Fahrenheit 451.
How can the distribution of literature be banned in a free society? Slippery slope or what?
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"The skeleton of our complete freedom is already formed.
The flesh and the clothing are lacking".
As I understood the original
As I understood the original article the unauthorised distribution of literature was techo-speak for fly-posting. It also sounds like the Council are considering introducing a local system similar to the national Mail Preference Service where people can opt-out of receiving unsolicited (i.e. junk) mail. If so, then that sounds like an excellent idea, and would be compatible with the Data Protection Act.
If you read the last
If you read the last paragraph of Tony's article guest, you will notice a distinction is made between the unauthorised distribution of literature and fly posting.
The endless stream of take away leaflets that come through my letterbox are annoying, I didn't need BNP or Tory pamphlets in May either. Such things usually go straight in to my (wheelie) filing system. Every now and then however, a little gem comes along informing me of an event or cause I'm interested in.
As I've posted on the Sentinel on this issue, anything can become litter if some git drops it in the street. We need a change in attitudes not fixed penalty notices. We did it with drink driving and we're getting there with smoking. Dropping litter is anti social and an insult to your fellow citizens.
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"The skeleton of our complete freedom is already formed.
The flesh and the clothing are lacking".
You cannot operate any litter
You cannot operate any litter fines if they are discriminatory.
You cannot fine a person for dropping a toffee wrapper yet allow Travellers to leave tons of rubbish when they move on.
D,A.
From litter fines to
From litter fines to travellers almost seamlessly - not a Nazi though, Terry.
Address the issue of authorised and unauthorised literature. I oppose virtually everything you stand for, but I wouldn't deny you the right to make your case.
Read David Mitchell on the Gaurdian site, about Islamic dress codes, liberty and the readiness to outlaw that you frown upon.
I hate the BNP, but I prefer to make them look stupid than proscribe them.
Be they advertisements, politcal pamphlets or religious tracts - I'd rather have slightly mucky streets than local politicians approving what can be disseminated.
Do you want the likes of Mike Barnes, or those well known aspirants Elsby and Bennett deciding what can be put through your door or passed to you in the street?
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"The skeleton of our complete freedom is already formed.
The flesh and the clothing are lacking".
Crikey, even a story about
Crikey, even a story about litter fines and Terry finds a way to swipe at a minority. It's got to be an art form.
What I was putting forward
What I was putting forward was the fact that you cannot fine one person and let another off because of ethnic origin.
I was expecting debate, but got insults.
No change there.
If that makes me a Nazi I don't give a shit.
I could not give a damm what Barnes, Elsby or any of the others wish to give me in the street I certainly would not take it, but hey we live in a free society don't we?
If thats what floats their boats so be it.
By the way I don't subscribe to a rag like the Guardian.
No Terry, if we are truly
No Terry, if we are truly "all in this together", and the Big Society is not a fraud, then my opinions are as relevant as yours and Daves'.
If you thought my last contribution was insults: honey I've got rythms I haven't used yet!
PS - read the Gaurdian more. So much more than tits, football, celebrity and crime.
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"The skeleton of our complete freedom is already formed.
The flesh and the clothing are lacking".
I don't swallow the Blair
I don't swallow the Blair clones ideas anymore than the scum before him.
He can spin (lie) as much as he likes I have become immune to him allready.
Saw and heard enough lies fom the last lot.
We are not "all in this together" as you put it, I dont subscribe to liers, thieves, and people without honour, and have no wish to be associated with this slime, that cannot even carry out election pledges made.
The sooner we are rid of them the better.
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