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Fixed Penalty Notices
Authorised council officers can issue fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for certain offences.
Uniformed officers patrol the city. If a relevant offence is witnessed they will either issue an FPN on the spot, or send it to the persons home address.
If the FPN is not paid within the time shown on the notice, then we will consider prosecution.
Payment cannot be made in instalments but you may be granted a time extension in certain circumstances.
How much is a Fixed Penalty Notice?
| Offence | FPN Value | Maximum if convicted |
|---|---|---|
| Littering | £75 | £2,500 |
| Disregard for a Dog Control Order | £75 | £1,000 |
| Graffiting and fly posting | £75 | £1,000 |
| Unauthorised distribution of free printed material | £75 | £2,500 |
| Community Protection Notices | £100 | £2,500 |
| Disregard for a Public Spaces Protection Order | £100 | £1,000 |
| Failure to produce waste transfer note | £300 | £5,000 |
| Failure to furnish waste carriers license | £300 | £5,000 |
| Offences related to waste containers | £60 | £1,000 |
What records do you keep?
We are legally required to keep a public register of every FPN we issue.
We also keep records of environmental offences in accordance with all data protection legislation.
What if there wasn't a bin or a warning sign?
It is not practical or cost-effective to put litter and dog waste bins on every street, road and highway within the city. Every effort is made to place them in the areas they are needed the most.
Once bagged, dog waste can be placed in any litter bin, not only the designated dog waste bins.
Where bins are not available, it is up to you to act responsibly and carry your litter to a bin or take it home to dispose of.
The council is not required to place warning signs regarding litter or dog fouling or to inform that patrols are taking place. However, there are signs up in appropriate areas.
Do cigarette butts or chewing gum count as litter?
Yes. These two items tend to be more of a nuisance and more expensive to clean than most other types of litter.
Smokers are responsible for ensuring that they completely extinguish a cigarette before placing it in a litter bin or ash-tray container.