Council tackles littering and fly-tipping with 25 prosecutions

In the past month, three Thanet residents have been successfully prosecuted by Thanet District Council for fly-tipping offences. 

A further 22 people -almost all from the area – who failed to pay a fixed penalty notice (FPN) for littering in the District have also been prosecuted.

The prosecutions were brought in front of Canterbury Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 29 May (littering) and Tuesday 5 June (littering and fly-tipping) while another fly-tipping case was heard at Folkestone Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday 11 June.

By taking people to court for dumping rubbish in the District, as well as for non-payment of FPNs for littering offences, Thanet District Council continues to demonstrate that it does not tolerate fly-tipping or the dropping of litter and will pursue anyone who flouts the law.

On Tuesday 11 June, a 39 year old resident of Westgate on Sea was found guilty in their absence, of fly-tipping on their own street. The case which was heard at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court resulted in a £500 fine with a further £511 in costs and a £50 victim surcharge.

On Tuesday 5 June, two defendants were found guilty at Canterbury Magistrates’ Court. The first, aged 52, from Margate attended court and pleaded guilty to dumping rubbish at Trove Court, Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate. They were given a 12 month Conditional Discharge and made to pay £120 in costs as well as a £20 victim surcharge.

The second defendant, aged 26, from Margate attended court and pleaded guilty to dumping rubbish in the parking area at the rear of Selborne Road, Margate. They attended court and pleaded guilty. They received a 12 month Conditional Discharge and made to pay £120 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

As well as tackling fly-tipping, the council is committed to making Thanet a clean and welcoming environment, and is determined to tackle litter, using enforcement where necessary in a bid to make the district a better place to live and visit.

On Tuesday 29 May, of the 13 cases for littering brought before Canterbury Magistrates’ Court, one person attended and pleaded guilty. They were fined £80 plus a victim surcharge of £30. Two others pleaded guilty by post and were each fined £147 and £220 costs and a victim surcharge of £30.  The remaining 10 did not attend and were each fined £220 with £120 costs and a victim surcharge of £30.

On Tuesday 5 June, of the nine cases for littering brought before Canterbury Magistrates’ Court, two defendants pleaded guilty by post and were each fined £147 and £120 costs and a victim surcharge of £30. The remaining seven did not attend and were each fined £220 with £120 costs and a victim surcharge of £30.

In addition to receiving the original FPN, all offenders were issued with two further warning letters, after they had missed the initial payment deadline. Taking people to court is the last resort and only happens after all communication issued has been ignored.

Cllr Rosanna Taylor-Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety & Environmental Services commented: “Thanet is a great place and we want it to be somewhere that people are proud of. Fly-tipping and littering are totally unacceptable and there really is no excuse for it. The majority of people that live in this area don’t drop litter or fly-tip but the few that do have an impact on all of us. Bringing prosecutions serves to remind people that litter and fly-tipping are crimes. The council has a  zero tolerance approach and will push for penalties.”

The council invests considerable resources each year into cleaning up fly-tipped waste in the district. Its dedicated streetscene enforcement officers – who are leading a crackdown on the practice which blights roadsides and country lanes –  fully investigate sites where fly-tipping has occurred. The team is determined to bring successful prosecutions against anyone dumping waste illegally.