Litterbug blitz snares 450 young offenders
10:32am Wednesday 28th February 2007 in Education News By Rob Devey
About 450 young litterbugs have been caught dropping rubbish in the streets around their schools.
Bolton Council launched the drive to catch juvenile offenders aged from 10 to 17 in June, 2004, after receiving complaints about litter near schools.
The campaign has involved enforcement officers patrolling particularly bad areas and approaching youngsters seen dropping litter.
School staff have been asked to identify other culprits on film taken from CCTV cameras.
Assemblies have also been used to hammer home the anti-litter message to pupils.
The first time children are caught they are issued with a £50 fixed penalty notice, which is waived if they and their parents agree to the child being given a final warning.
If they are caught a second time, they are asked to pay the fine. A failure to pay or a third offence lands them in court.
The vast majority of the 450 cases so far have remained at the final warning stage, with just 15 resulting in payment of the fine and three dealt with through the courts. Three cases have been referred to the Youth Offending Team.
The council's executive member for environmental services, Cllr John Byrne, said: "Dealing with these young offenders is a difficult task for any local authority.
"Attempting to retrieve a £50 fine from a juvenile can pose a problem because not many have such a large amount of money.
"This way, with the support of their parents, we can issue a final warning with the intention that they do not offend again.
"On the occasions we have taken juveniles to court, the magistrates have expressed their appreciation at the way we have dealt with the offence."
Now, as a result of its campaign against young litterbugs, the council has been shortlisted for an award in the innovation category of the ENCAMS (Environmental Campaigns) Cleaner Safer Greener Network Awards 2007.
Cllr Byrne said: "To be recognised by ENCAMS for our work in this field is a real achievement and other authorities are already looking to us for advice on reducing juvenile litter problems."
Bolton will find out if it has won the award at a ceremony in Nottingham next week.
