Liverpool Council has secured fines totalling almost £5,000 against a dozen offenders caught littering across the city in August alone. The successful prosecutions follow a series of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) that were not paid within the required timescale.
During August, 12 people were successfully prosecuted for littering offences. Four appeared before magistrates and pleaded guilty, while a further eight were found guilty in their absence after failing to attend court.
Court action over unpaid fines
Each offender had originally been issued with an FPN after being caught littering but failed to pay within the required timescale, resulting in their cases being referred to court. Collectively, they were ordered to pay £4,688, including £2,026 in fines.
Offending businesses have also been sanctioned after they failed to comply with commercial waste regulations. Liverpool Council’s environmental crime enforcement team secured a prosecution against the owner of Millionaire Grill on Richmond Street, who pleaded guilty to commercial waste offences after officers discovered waste linked to the business on nearby Dawson Street.
Businesses prosecuted for waste offences
The owner was also prosecuted for failing to provide waste documentation requested as part of the investigation. The court imposed a £384 fine, a £154 victim surcharge and £195 in costs.
In a separate case, the owner of Freddy's Chicken on London Road was prosecuted for failing to comply with a legal notice requiring waste to be stored correctly. Officers initially issued an FPN, but when it was not paid within the required timeframe, the matter was escalated to court.
Council partnership and enforcement figures
The council works in partnership with Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement (WISE) to tackle environmental crimes across the city, including fly-tipping, littering, and dog fouling. Anyone caught committing an offence may be issued an FPN or face prosecution in court.
Since the start of the year, 340 people and businesses have been issued FPNs for fly-tipping or failing to dispose of their waste correctly, while several thousand littering fines have been handed out.
Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins, cabinet member for communities, neighbourhoods and streetscene, said: “There is absolutely no excuse for littering or fly-tipping.
“The vast majority of people take pride in their neighbourhoods and do the right thing, but we will not tolerate those who choose to break the law.
“Rubbish left on the streets is a blight on our communities and costs taxpayers money to clean up.
“These prosecutions send a clear message that we will continue to take action against anyone caught offending and use all our powers to help keep Liverpool clean and welcoming for everyone.”
