Fixed Penalties Target Graffiti
New council powers to crack down on environmental crimes and anti-social behavior such as graffiti, fly-tipping and fly-posting are coming up to the force.
Measures under the Clean Neighborhoods and Environment Act 2005 allows the local authorities in England and Wales to issue £80 on-the-spot fines.
Regulations targeting people who leave burglar alarms ringing or abandon vehicles are also coming into the picture.
The Local Government Association says the act will provides more and more effective powers.
“People want to live in clean, safe and quiet neighborhoods and councils now have the power to make this happen,” the LGA’s environment board said
“For too many years councils have had too little power to tackle the people who blight the local area.
“Local authorities have been asking government for greater power for years and now they have these measures they will use them to literally clean up the streets.”
Obtrusive lighting
Council enforcement officers already carries the ability to issue £50 fixed penalties to people who drop litter or whose dogs foul the pavement.
The new £80 fines will try to replace those powers and also cover graffiti, fly-tipping, fly-posting, leaflet distribution and waste registration breaches.
Under the act, people who leave a burglar alarm ringing for 20 minutes or create a nuisance by selling or repairing vehicles on the street could face a £100 fine.
Councils could issue £200 fines to people who abandon vehicles.
They will be able to enforce penalties for light pollution - problems caused by obtrusive outdoor lighting - of up to £5,000 for residents or £20,000 for businesses.
There will also be new powers enabling councils to restrict access to alleyways affected by anti-social behavior or crimes such as drug dealing