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Named and shamed: Sittingbourne litterbugs fined for filthy crime

Fines of around £10,000 have been dished out to litterbugs in the six weeks since enforcement officers wearing body cameras hit the streets.

A total of 163 people have been given fixed penalty notices of up to £80 as part of the pilot scheme being run by Swale council.

Two dedicated officers were appointed as part of a crackdown on those caught dropping litter or not cleaning up after their dogs.

Offenders caught in the act are initially fined £60, however, that rises to £80 if they fail to pay within seven days.

Litter found along the lay-by Sittingbourne-bound on the A249 just along from the Sheppey bridge crossing
Litter found along the lay-by Sittingbourne-bound on the A249 just along from the Sheppey bridge crossing

Anyone who still refuses faces legal action.

Providing false details after being caught littering cost a Murston woman more than £500.

Charlene Bignall, of Broom Road, was handed an on-the-spot fine after she was seen dropping a cigarette butt in the town’s High Street.

Although the 23-year-old provided a different name to the warden at the time it was issued, the local authority managed to correctly identify her and took her to court.

Maidstone magistrates fined her £100 for littering and a further £200 for providing false information, in her absence, on April 30.

Enforcement officers have doled out a number of on the spot fines
Enforcement officers have doled out a number of on the spot fines

She was also ordered to pay £205 costs and a £20 victim surcharge in relation to the incident, which happened on October 16 last year.

Angela Austin, 28, of Ash Tree House, Murston, and Katie Austin, 23, also of Broom Road, Murston, were also caught dropping cigarette butts in Sittingbourne High Street on October 15 last year.

Both women failed to appear at the same court on the same day, but were each fined £200, ordered to pay £100 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

A collection order was made for the money to be paid by all three women within 28 days.

The pilot scheme has been running across the borough since March 24.

Pete Raine
Pete Raine

Pete Raine, director of regeneration at Swale council, said: “Clean streets are not just cosmetic – they show that the environment is respected and will encourage people to want to live and work here.

“We spend hundreds of thousands of pounds a year picking up other people’s mess, we’ve installed extra bins, given away pocket ashtrays and organised community clean-ups to try to encourage people to take pride in their community.

“Unfortunately, there are still some who think leaving a mess for others to pay to clean up is acceptable behaviour, so we are ramping up our efforts to catch – and fine – the people littering our streets.

“If someone wants to avoid paying a fine for littering, the best approach is not to drop it in the first place.

“This shows that we are listening to local people’s concerns.”

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