A dozen litterbugs from as far as Surrey and London have been slapped with fines totaling nearly £5,000 after being caught messing up Liverpool's streets. The offenders were supposed to appear at Liverpool Magistrates' Court earlier this month, but not a single one showed up. Two pleaded guilty by letter, and all were convicted in their absence.
Offenders Mostly Under 40, Fines Average £416 Each
The majority of the offenders were under 40. They were issued Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) by enforcement partner Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement (WISE) on behalf of Liverpool Council. Anyone caught littering faces a £150 penalty, while dog fouling carries a £100 fine. Those who refuse to pay or dispute the FPN may face prosecution.
In 2025, a total of 2,239 FPNs were issued for a range of environmental crimes across the city. The court cases covered a variety of offenses, including littering and fly-tipping.
Van Owner Convicted for Fly-Tipping in Wavertree
One case involved the owner of a van caught fly-tipping on Liberty Street in Wavertree. Footage from the council's internal environmental enforcement team showed a van pulling up, and two people unloading a significant amount of waste next to a purple wheelie bin. The vehicle's keeper refused to cooperate with the investigation, leading to a court conviction for being in control of a vehicle used for fly-tipping.
Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins said: “Littering and fly-tipping are entirely selfish acts that have a huge impact on everyone else. There is no excuse for leaving rubbish on our streets, especially when we have plenty of infrastructure and support in place to help people get rid of it responsibly.”
Council Warns: Ignoring Fines Won't Make Them Go Away
She added: “If you are caught littering or fly-tipping, there’s no avoiding the consequences. You can’t just ignore it and hope it will go away, as evidenced by these recent court cases. The only way to guarantee you don’t get penalised is by not dropping rubbish in the first place.”
Anyone who sees fly-tipping is encouraged to report it on the council website. WISE staff support the council with enforcing littering and dog fouling rules to keep Liverpool's streets and green spaces clean.
