A freedom of information request reveals that Manchester City Council issued more than £2million in litter fines last year – with each one costing more than a speeding fine.
The cost of speeding in Manchester is currently £100, while a fine for dropping a cigarette or a packet of crisps is set at £150.
From October 2022 to October this year 13,486 littering fines have been issued on the streets of Manchester, by the council’s environmental officers and contractor WISE.
Becky, a resident living in Ancoats, said: “It’s irresponsible when speeding will do you more harm than rubbish will. I know [litter] looks bad but it’s not dangerous.”
While speeding carries the added deterrent of three points on your license if caught and charged – there are a few options with a speeding fine that don’t exist with the so-called ‘litter police’.
The Greater Manchester Police website states clearly that if caught on a speed camera you will be sent the option for a speed awareness course, a fixed penalty notice or a letter to appear in court.
If however you are stopped by the police in person these options are offered with the possibility of a verbal warning. But if you are caught littering, this will result in an on-the-spot fine without warning.
In 2020 the cost of a littering fine was £100 dropping to £50 if paid within 14 days.
Now in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis this has increased by 50% – and the time to pay a reduced rate of £120 is now only 10 days.
Castlefield resident Daniel Mathers said: “It should surprise me but it doesn’t. They care more about making money than they do about solving anything.”
What is even more alarming is that fixed penalty notices can be issued to anyone over the age of 10 – meaning parents could be hit with £150 fines on their child’s behalf.
WISE employs 21 officers to issue littering fines and Manchester City Council states the contract with them is cost-neutral and there are no direct costs to the council.
This doesn’t however cover the cost of the additional 61 council officers able to issue fixed penalty notices to residents.
Manchester City Council were approached for comment and shared that in July this year the government announced that local authorities could increase the cost of fines for littering from £150 to a maximum of £500 – but Manchester’s rate has stayed the same.
