Cleaning Up Mid Beds
In addition to their usual duties, the Police Community Support Officers will look out for people committing these crimes and report them to Mid Beds District Council, who will issue a warning letter. Repeat offenders face being issued with Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) by the council, who will chase and if appropriate seek to prosecute for non-payment of the fine. The fine accompanying a FPN is £75, which is reduced to £50 for prompt payment within 14 days.
This six month trial is the second of its kind in Bedfordshire, following a trial last year in Sandy and necessitates substantial partnership working between Mid Beds and Bedfordshire Police.
Rob Parsons, Mid Beds District Council’s Community Safety Manager said: “This trial is just that. Our aim is that the threat of Fixed Penalty Notices will, as it did in the Sandy trial last year, act as a deterrent for would-be offenders.
"We want as far as is practical to educate and change attitudes rather than enforce.”
Inspector Clive Hewett, from Bedfordshire Police, added: “Bedfordshire Police are delighted to partner Mid Beds on another initiative aimed at making our community a better place to live and work.
“Although litter in Biggleswade, Flitwick and Ampthill is no worse than anywhere else, there is a minority of people who throw their rubbish on the ground. These tickets will be an expensive reminder that this type of behaviour is not acceptable.
“This initiative fits in nicely with the whole concept of Neighbourhood Policing that we are delivering through Safer Neighbourhood Teams and we look forward to developing more innovative projects with colleagues from partnership agencies.”
