Dropping cigarette butts, face coverings and drink cans has cost a group of litterbugs more than £10,000.
Together, 20 people have been ordered by magistrates to pay a staggering £10,222 for failing to pay fixed penalty notices for littering.
The offences took place across Medway in June and July last year.
There is no excuse for littering
Cllr Jane Chitty, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder covering Enforcement, said: “We work hard to keep Medway clean and tidy all year round for residents and visitors to enjoy and this is spoilt by the minority of people who litter. We have more than 1,400 public bins in Medway so there simply is no excuse.
Littering is a criminal offence and anyone who is seen intentionally dropping, throwing or leaving rubbish will be fined. We don’t want to fine our residents and visitors but as these 20 people found out, it is an effective way of sending a strong message that littering is not, and will not, be tolerated in Medway.”
We work in partnership with our litter enforcement agents, District Enforcement, to encourage residents and visitors to dispose of their waste responsibly to help keep Medway clean and tidy.
Littering is a criminal offence
On Friday, 27 January, 17 defendants failed to appear at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court and the cases were proved in their absence.
Each person was fined £200 by magistrates and ordered to pay costs of £250 and a victim surcharge of £80, totalling £530 per person.
Medway Magistrates’ Court heard three cases on Friday, 3 February. All of the defendants failed to appear and the cases were proved in their absence.
Each person was fined £220 by magistrates and ordered to pay costs of £150 and a victim surcharge of £34, totalling £404 per person.