main content Prosecuted for not paying a fine

A woman has been prosecuted after failing to pay a fixed penalty notice for dumping a black sack containing household rubbish next to a lamp post in Anerley Road. Mrs Omoyomi Ajilore failed to appear at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on January 3rd. The matter was proved in her absence and she was ordered to make an immediate payment of fines and costs totalling £325.

“Fixed penalty notices form part of our crackdown on littering and fly-tipping in the borough, and this case follows other successful prosecutions for non-payment of fines. Our advice to anyone who has been given a fixed penalty notice is to pay the fine and if you pay promptly, the amount is reduced. Paying a £50 fixed penalty notice is better than being summoned to court where you could receive a heavier fine plus costs, and possibly a criminal record” said Peter Turvey, Enforcement and Technical Support Manager.

The court heard that a council enviro-crime officer had been carrying out a regular inspection in Anerley. A black rubbish bag was found placed on the pavement next to a lamp column outside Melbourne Court, Anerley Road.

When evidence was found linking the dumped rubbish to Mrs Ajilore, a fixed penalty notice was issued. The £80 fine must be paid within 14 days but is reduced to £50 if paid within 10 days. As the fine was overdue, a reminder letter was sent. The fine remained unpaid and a final letter was sent advising that legal proceedings would commence.

Since the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 became law, councils have been able to issue fixed penalty notices for environmental offences instead of taking offenders to court. Fixed penalty notices, ranging from £80 to £300 can be given for littering and fly-tipping, not looking after your waste, graffiti and fly-posting, and abandoning a vehicle.

Anyone seeing an enviro-crime being committed should call the police and report the details to the council. A description of the offender, vehicle registration and a photograph would be helpful. Providing this information could be useful evidence and up to £500 may be given as a reward.

Further information on fixed penalty notices for environmental offences and the enviro-crime reward scheme are available from www.bromley.gov.uk/neatstreet  or by calling the Customer Service Centre on 020 8313 4557.

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Advisor, on 020 8461 7670 e-mail andrew.rogers@bromley.gov.uk  or Peter Turvey, Enforcement and Technical Support Officer, on 020 8313 4901.

Further information is available at www.bromley.gov.uk