'Change in attitude' to littering after enviro-crime crackdown

There were 6,673 fines issued after Rotherham Borough Council hired private firm Kingdom to clamp down on rubbish, fly-tipping and other environmental offences.

The figure represents an increase of more than 7,200 per cent on the average of 90 in previous years.

The Time for Action pilot was set up through a link with Doncaster Council, which already employed Kingdom.

Cllr Emma Hoddinott (pictured), cabinet member for waste, said: “It’s a huge increase and its been welcomed by people who wanted us to tackle this.

“The number of fines tailed off towards the end of the year, with council bosses putting this down to a change in attitudes about littering.”

And a report to cabinet members this week said: “Significant progress has been made with investigation and enforcement tools for environmental crime offences. 

“With regards to fly-tipping enforcement, the use of fixed penalty notices has increased for smaller offences and there has been an increase in the number of prosecution cases being brought for fly-tipping and other waste offences.”

The council also used new powers to seize 15 vehicles which had been used in enviro-crime.