§ 11. Dr. Michael Clarkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate the number of prosecutions that have taken place for litter offences during the last period for which figures are available.
§ Mr. MellorIn 1984, 1,552 defendants were prosecuted under the Litter Act 1983, and 639 under the Refuse (Amenity) Act 1978.
§ Dr. ClarkI am sure my hon. Friend will be aware that I am a little disappointed in those figures, because I, too, would like to see a higher clear-up rate. As our towns, cities and countryside are disgraced by the amount of litter that one sees around the place, does my hon. Friend think that this is because the law is not adequate, or because the police forces are not given the right instructions?
§ Mr. MellorI think that it is because people drop litter and fly-tip when they should not. The Department of the Environment has in hand initiatives to deal with that problem. I think that the law is adequate, although there may be some question whether penalties are appropriate. Although the fine for dropping litter is a maximum £400, the average fine last year was £26, and although the fine for fly-tipping is a maximum £1,000, the average fine last year was on £36. I must say to my hon. Friend that there are so many calls on the time of the police that it is difficult for us to assert that they should give a greater priority to prosecuting those who drop litter.