The number of fines issued for littering has dropped a third in the last four years – with those being paid also plummeting by 20%, new data has revealed.
A Freedom of Information request to Manchester City Council revealed that 10,324 littering fines were issued in 2022 – a 35% drop compared to 2018 when that figure was 15,811.
Figures also show the proportion of littering Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) which actually get paid has been consistently decreasing over that same period of time.
Out of the 10,324 littering fines issued in 2022, just 5,694 – or 55% – were paid.
That represents a big drop from 2018, when 11,922 of the 15,811 littering fines (75%) were paid.
This information comes a month after images of the canal in Salford Quays brimming with piles of litter began circulating online, shocking Mancunians and sparking discussions as to whether the city was facing a litter problem.
Twitter user @S_Daley365, who regularly reports on littering and fly-tipping offences in his posts, recently described the problem as a “health hazard”.
In Manchester, the FPN for littering is £150, reduced to £120 if paid within 10 days.
Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, executive member for vibrant neighbourhood at Manchester City Council, believes part of the reason for the drop is that more people choose to challenge the penalty in court.
“The FPN offers the recipient the opportunity to discharge their liability for the alleged offence committed by making payment,” said Coun Igbon. “Some may choose not to make payment and instead risk a prosecution through the Magistrates’ Court and a much higher fine.
“The council cannot influence the choice of an individual as to whether to make payment of the FPN or risk further action through the courts.”
Members of the council also pointed to the decrease in the number of fines issued as reflecting the local government’s efforts to tackle the issue, especially fly-tipping – and despite continuous disruption caused by the pandemic.
“The reduction in fines over 2018 to 2022 is partly as a result of the pandemic but also demonstrates the hard work by the city council in reducing fly-tipping across the city,” said Coun Igbon.
Over the past few years the compliance and enforcement officers have been focusing their efforts on known fly-tipping hotspot areas in Manchester, which include Liverpool Road and Bolton Road.
Campaigns led by the Keep Manchester Tidy team, itself supported by the Keep Britain Tidy national charity, are working on raising awareness about littering and fly-tipping across Greater Manchester.
Featured image credit: Leo Reynolds on Flickr.
