Regent Street in Kingswood
South Gloucestershire Council secured successful prosecutions at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Monday after street enforcement officers caught three people littering on streets in Kingswood and Staple Hill.
Sarah Hopkins, of High Street, Staple Hill, was ordered to pay a total of £867 after street enforcement officers saw her throw a cigarette down a drain in her road. Officers spoke to her and she was handed a fixed penalty notice (FPN).
A subsequent check revealed that she had made no effort to make any payment against the penalty, so the case was progressed to the court. Hopkins failed to attend Bristol Magistrates’ Court and was found guilty in her absence and handed a £220 fine, ordered to pay £559 in costs and an £88 victim surcharge, totalling £867.
Sam Murphy, of Downend Road, Kingswood, was ordered to pay a total of £867 after street enforcement officers saw him discard a drinks can on Regent Street in Kingswood. He was handed an FPN and because he made no attempt to pay the penalty, the case was progressed to court. Murphy failed to attend and was found guilty in his absence and handed a £220 fine, ordered to pay £559 in costs and an £88 victim surcharge, totalling £867.
Charles Holly, of Gill Avenue, Fishponds, was ordered to pay a total of £850 after officers observed him throw a cigarette down a drain on Moravian Road, Kingswood. When challenged about the offence, he accepted his actions and was handed a FPN. However, he failed to make any payment against the FPN so the case was progressed to court. Holly also failed to attend court and was found guilty in his absence and handed a £220 fine, ordered to pay £542 in costs and an £88 victim surcharge, totalling £850.
This week Cllr Rachael Hunt, cabinet member responsible for environmental enforcement at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “These individuals were all caught in the act of littering yet made no effort to pay the fixed penalties handed to them, so their cases were brought before the court
“Discarded litter such as cans and cigarette ends are an unsightly blight on our high streets and environment. We all have a responsibility to dispose of our litter correctly and there is no excuse for carelessly discarding waste and expecting others to clean it up.”
FPNs issued for littering carry a £150 charge but if paid within the first 10 days are reduced to £75 as an incentive to resolve the matter and discharge any criminal liability.
Littering and other anti-social offences can be reported by visiting www.southglos.gov.uk/report
