Enforcement operation held to reduce litter complaints (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Enforcement operation held to reduce litter complaints

8:19am Monday 20th October 2008

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By Claire Hack »

A LITTER enforcement operation has been held in a bid to stem the rising tide of street cleansing problems.

Held outside Waltham Forest College, Forest Road on October 14, the operation was organised by the council and was intended to discourage young people from dropping rubbish around the college and the borough.

Six highway enforcement officers were patrolling Forest Road, along with a police officer, two Community Support Officers and members of enforcement management, stopping anyone who dropped litter and issuing fines.

“It’s a fixed penalty notice of £75, which is reduced to £50 if it’s paid within 10 days,” said highway enforcement officer Terry Rushworth.

“It’s issued to discharge liability to prosecution for the offence - it’s a way for the courts to get freed up.”

A total of five people were issued with the penalties during the hour-long operation and there are plans to repeat it at Sir George Monoux College and around the borough.

Sergeant Paul Gibb, of the Chapel End Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: “You never know whether there’s going to be any trouble.

“We’re hoping that the local lads and girls will be co-operative. It’s very important that we’re not seen to be overbearing - if you have too many police officers around, you inflame the situation. We wanted to keep it nice and relaxed.”

The operation comes as more complaints continue to be made about the state of the borough’s streets and was aimed at preventing the problem of casual littering before it mounts up.

Cllr Bob Belam said: “It’s to send out a message of zero-tolerance. If people drop litter, we will give them a penalty notice.

“Obviously, if we do a high visibility exercise, it shows that we’re doing something and hopefully, people will put their litter in bins.”

There were four litter enforcement operations this week and there will be another four every week for at least a month.

“The message has got to get across that we’re not going to accept littering,” said enforcement manager Gareth Jones.

“I don’t think people realise what they’re doing - they need to realise the impact it’s having.”

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