HL Deb 20 November 2000 vol 619 cc55-6WA
Lord Hardy of Wath

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Over the last four years, how many people have been required to pay a fixed penalty for dropping litter; and how many have been convicted by the courts for this offence. [HL4581]

Lord Whitty

Data for only the last three years are available on the DETR database for issuing and payment of a fixed penalty for dropping litter. During this period 8,256 fixed penalties for litter offences were issued, and 4,633 were paid. During this same period there was a total of 1,500 prosecutions resulting in 1,119 convictions.

Table A: Number of Fixed Penalties Issued for the Offence of Leaving Litter
DETR Database covers three years
Year Number penalties issued Number of penalties paid Total sum received £
1997–98 727 652 16,305
1998–99 4,778 2,520 62,940
1999–2000 2,751 1,461 36,525

Figures for 1999–2000 are provisional.

Table B: Number of Convictions for the Offence of Leaving Litter
Home Office Data covers four years
Year Prosecutions Convictions
1996 626 468
1997 505 352
1998 494 377
1999 501 390