Part 3Litter and refuse

Offence of dropping litter

I3I519Litter offence: fixed penalty notices

I1I41

Section 88 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43) (fixed penalty notices for leaving litter) is amended as follows.

I42

For subsections (6) and (7) (amount of fixed penalty) substitute—

6

The fixed penalty payable in pursuance of a notice under this section is payable to the litter authority whose authorised officer gave the notice.

6A

The amount of a fixed penalty payable in pursuance of a notice under this section—

a

is the amount specified by a principal litter authority in relation to its area (whether the penalty is payable to that or another authority), or

b

if no amount is so specified, is £75.

6B

The reference in subsection (6A) above to a principal litter authority does not include an English county council for an area for which there is also a district council.

7

The litter authority to which a fixed penalty is payable under this section may make provision for treating it as having been paid if a lesser amount is paid before the end of a period specified by the authority.

I43

After subsection (8) insert—

8A

If an authorised officer of a litter authority proposes to give a person a notice under this section, the officer may require the person to give him his name and address.

8B

A person commits an offence if—

a

he fails to give his name and address when required to do so under subsection (8A) above, or

b

he gives a false or inaccurate name or address in response to a requirement under that subsection.

8C

A person guilty of an offence under subsection (8B) above is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

I44

In subsection (9), at the end insert—

f

a parish or community council.

I45

In subsection (10), for the definition of “authorised officer” substitute—

“authorised officer”, in relation to a litter authority, means—

a

an employee of the authority who is authorised in writing by the authority for the purpose of giving notices under this section;

b

any person who, in pursuance of arrangements made with the authority, has the function of giving such notices and is authorised in writing by the authority to perform that function; and

c

any employee of such a person who is authorised in writing by the authority for the purpose of giving such notices;

I26

After that subsection insert—

11

The appropriate person may by regulations prescribe conditions to be satisfied by a person before a parish or community council may authorise him in writing for the purpose of giving notices under this section.