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Environmental crimes and fixed penalty notices (FPN)

The council has a robust approach to all aspects of environmental crime.  In June 2019, the council’s new highly trained Civic Enforcement Team was launched. Not only will they act as a deterrent, but will also investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute cases of anti-social behaviour, fly tipping, litter, dog fouling, illegal parking and vehicles that are untaxed, dangerous or causing an obstruction or nuisance.

The best way to avoid paying a fine is to ensure that you put your litter (including cigarette ends) and dog mess into the bins provided or take it home with you.  It costs Darlington Borough Council taxpayers more than £1.18 million every year to clean up litter and dog fouling despite the best efforts of the council’s workforce and our brilliant volunteers, the Street Champions and others.   

Environmental Crime Enforcement – FAQs

Why are we doing this – what has driven us to take this decision?

The aim is to reduce all aspects of environmental crime in the town and wider area and make Darlington a safer, more vibrant place to live, work and enjoy.

What is our understanding of public/local businesses’ views?

The council regularly receives comments/complaints re. Environmental crime which is an ongoing issue in the borough. The use of enforcement staff will be welcomed by the majority, however there will be a small minority, mainly those who offend, that will be against enforcement for environmental crime.

What about ‘accidental littering’ - who will ensure ‘fairness’?

We would expect a common sense approach on such issues. Officers are trained to adopt a proportionate, common sense approach.  There will also be an appeals process for anyone wishing to challenge a decision to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice.

What about fly tipping – particularly in back lanes?

The Civic Enforcement Team will be able to focus on issues such as fly tipping and abandoned vehicles.  The new roles will combine the work of parking enforcement, dog wardens, antisocial behaviour and environmental crime enabling them to look out for issues and deal with them while out on patrol.

What about an appeals process – will this create a demand on council resources and who will be responsible?

Darlington Borough Council will also be responsible for administering an ‘Appeals Process’ for some offences and details can be found on the Fixed Penalty Notice and also below.

How do you appeal?

Details of the ‘Appeals Process’ can be found on the Fixed Penalty Notice as follows:

Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) are issued as an alternative to being prosecuted for the offence. Paying the FPN discharges your liability and avoids the chance of a higher fine and a criminal record. You have the right not to pay this FPN and defend any prosecution against you in a magistrates’ court.

If you wish to challenge a FPN you should email [email protected] or write to Civic Processing Team, Town Hall, D Block, Darlington, DL1 5QT. (Appeals cannot be dealt with over the phone). Ultimately, if anyone does not agree with the council’s decision the case can then be heard in the courts.

What happens when under 18s are caught by enforcement officers?

Different arrangements will apply to those under 18 years of age who commit these offences, as follows;

10-13 year olds

FPNs will not be issued to those under the age of 14 where a littering of dog fouling offence is witnessed, but they should still be requested to pick it up and both the juvenile and their parent/guardian will be sent a formal warning so that the parent/guardian is aware of the situation.

14 and 15 year olds

If a littering or dog fouling offence is committed by someone who is 14 or 15, in the first instance they would be requested to pick it up and dispose of it in the correct manner. If they do so, a formal warning would then be given, verbally at the time and followed up in writing to both the juvenile and their parent/guardian. If the litter/dog foul is not picked up, a FPN would be issued to the individual and the parent/guardian informed. Note: Prior to FPN being issued, consultation will take place with the Youth Offending Service as to whether this is an appropriate course of action.

16 and 17 year olds

If an individual who is 16 or 17 commits a littering or dog fouling offence they will be issued with a FPN and the parent/guardian informed. Prior to FPN being issued, consultation will take place with Youth Offending Service as to whether this is an appropriate course of action.

In every instance where a FPN is issued to an under 18, consideration can be given to a supervised litter pick as an alternative to payment of the FPN. This option will be explained to the individual and their parent/guardian at the time of the FPN being sent out to them.

Will body cameras be used by the enforcement officers?

Civic Enforcement Officers use bodycams.

What are the FPN rates?

These come into force on 1st October 2019

The rates can be viewed below, click on the accordion to expand

 

FPN rates
Offence Explanation Relevant act DBC full FPN DBC discounted FPN if paid within 7 days
Littering

A person is guilty of an offence if they throw down, drop or otherwise deposit and litter in any place in the area of a principle litter authority which is open to the air, accessible to the public and they leave it.

Litter includes discarded cigarette ends and chewing gum.

Section 87 Environmental Protection Act 1990. (Offence of littering).

Section 88 Environmental Protection Act 1990 (FPN for littering).

Section 98 Environmental Protection Act (definition of litter).

£150 £75
Littering from vehicles The registered keeper of a vehicle is guilty of an offence if littering occurs as a result of litter being thrown, dropped or otherwise deposited from a vehicle (whether or not by the vehicle’s keeper).

Section 88 Environmental Protection Act 1990 (description of the offence).

Littering from vehicles outside London (Keepers Civil Penalties) Regulations 2018.

£150 £75
Graffiti

An offence is committed where a person without lawful excuse destroys or damages any property belonging to another or is reckless as to whether the property is damaged or destroyed.

This includes the painting or writing on, or the soiling or marking or other defacing of, any property by whatever means (criminal damage).

Section 43 ASB Act 2003 (Penalty notices for graffiti) Section 43A ASB Act 2003 (amount of penalty – inserted by s.28 Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005).

Section 44 ASB Act 2003 (definition of a relevant offence for purposes of s.43).

Section 132 Highways Act 1980 (description of the offence).

£150 £75
Fly posting A person who, without either the consent of the highway authority for the highway in question or an authorisation given by or under an enactment or a reasonable excuse, paints or otherwise inscribes or affixes any picture, letter, sign or other mark upon the surface of a highway or upon any tree, structure or works on any land designated by the local authority.

Section 43 ASB Act 2003 (Penalty notices for Fly posting).

Section 43A ASB Act 2003 (amount of penalty – inserted by s.28 of Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005).

Section 44 ASB Act 2003.

£150 £75
Unauthorised distribution of free literature on designated land

A person commits an offence if they distribute any free printed matter without the consent of a principal litter authority on any land which is designated by the authority under schedule 3A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, where the person knows that the land is designated.

A person commits an offence if they cause another person to distribute any free printed matter without the consent of the authority on any land designated by the authority.

Section 94B Environmental Protection Act 1990 (free distribution of printed matter giving effect to schedule 3A).

Para1 Schedule 3A Environmental Protection Act 1990 (description of the offence). 

Para 7 Schedule 3A Environmental Protection Act 1990 (fixed penalty notices).

£150 £75
Nuisance parking

A person is guilty of an offence if at any time   they leave two vehicles parked within 500 meters of each other on a road or roads where they are exposed or advertised for sale. It is also an offence for a person to carry out restricted works on a motor vehicle on a road. 

Restricted works includes; repair, maintenance, servicing, improvement or dismantling of a motor vehicle or of any part of or accessory to a motor vehicle and/or works for the installation, replacement or renewal of any such part or accessory.

Section 3 Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (offence of exposing vehicles for sale on the road). 

Section 4 Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (offence of repairing vehicles on a road). 

Section 6 Clean Neighbourhoods and environment Act 2005 (power to give fixed penalty notices).

£100 £60
Abandoning a vehicle

Any person who, without lawful authority, abandons on any land in the open air, or on any other land forming part of the highway, a motor vehicle or anything which formed part of a motor vehicle and was removed from it in the course of dismantling the vehicle on the land, is guilty of an offence. There is no statutory definition of an abandoned vehicle. 

Government suggest if one or more of the below criteria are satisfied then it can be classed as abandoned: 

It is untaxed (this is insufficient as a sole ground. 

It has no current DVLA record.

The vehicle has been left in the same place for a long period of time.

It is haphazardly parked in an appropriate place. 

It is burnt out or containing rubbish.

The vehicle is damaged or not road worthy. 

It is without number plates.

Section 2 (Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 (offence of abandoning a vehicle).

Section 2A Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 (fixed penalty for offence of abandoning a vehicle). 

Section 3 Refuse Disposal Act 1978 (removal of abandoned vehicles).

Section 4 Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 (disposal of removed vehicles).

£200 £175
Fly tipping It is an offence to deposit controlled waste or extractive waste or knowingly cause or knowingly permit controlled waste or extractive waste to be deposited in or on any land unless an environmental permit authorising the deposit is in force and the deposit is in accordance with the permit. 

Section 33(1)(a) Environmental Protection Act 1990 (offence of fly tipping). 

Section 33ZA Environmental Protection Act 1990 (fixed penalty notices for contravention of 33 (1)(a).

£400 No discount
Failure to produce a waste transfer note

It is the duty of anyone who imports, produces, carries, keeps, treats or disposes of controlled waste or, as a dealer or broker, has control of such waste, to ensure the waste is transferred to an authorised person and that there is a written description of the waste. 

Failure to produce waste transfer notices when requested and the failure to retain waste transfer notes for 2 years are criminal offences.

Section 34 Environmental Protection Act 1990 (duty of care as respects waste).

Regulation 35(6) of the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011.

Section 34ZA Environmental Protection Act 1990 (fixed penalty notice).

£300 No discount
Domestic waste receptacle offences Households must place their waste in receptacles of a kind and number specified by the local authority. Since the decriminalisation of domestic waste receptacle offences, the local authority must follow a specified procedure before it can issue a penalty for the breach of receptacle requirements. The local authority must first give a written warning. If non-compliance continues, a notice of intent to issue an FPN must be given. The offender must be given 28 days to make representations. Before the FPN can be issued, a further notice, known as the final notice, must be served.

Section 46 Environmental Protection Act 1990 (receptacles for household waste).

Section 46A Environmental Protection Act 1990 (written warnings and penalties for failure to comply with receptacle requirements).

Section 46B Environmental Protection Act 1990 (amount of fixed penalty).

Section 46C(notices of intent and final notice).

Section 46D (appeals against penalty under 46A). 

Section 47ZA (fixed penalty for offences under s.46 & s.47). 

£80 £40
Industrial & commercial waste receptacle offences

A waste collection authority, may at the request of any person, supply them with receptacles for commercial or industrial waste which they have requested the authority to collect and will make a reasonable charge.

If it appears to a waste collection authority that there is likely to be situated,on any premises in its area, commercial waste or Industrial waste of a kind which, if the waste is not stored in receptacles of a particular kind, is likely to cause a nuisance or be detrimental, the authority may by notice served require the occupier of the premises to provide receptacles for the storage of the waste of a kind & number specified. A person served with such notice can appeal to Magistrates Court within 21 days if the requirements are unreasonable.

Section 47 Environmental Protection Act 1990(receptacles for commercial or industrial waste).

Section 47ZA Environmental Protection Act 1990(fixed penalty for offences under s.46 and s.47).

Schedule 1, para 2 Controlled waste (England & Wales) Regulations 2012 (sources of household, industrial and commercial waste).

£100 £60

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