Labour exposed as 'soft on litter louts'

10.27.25am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 28th Mar 2006

Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed (right) and local Lib Dem campaigner John Bowden (left) calling for zero-tolerance on litter louts

Labour run Sheffield City Council has been exposed as being soft on litter louts. Despite frequently boasting at the number of fines handed out for dropping litter, dog fouling and fly tipping, it has been revealed that only 58% of fines handed out over the last three years have been enforced.

Lib Dems on the council are calling on Labour to get tough with litter louts and to implement a zero-tolerance policy. They believe that by being soft on those damaging our local environment, they are letting down the vast majority of Sheffielders who take pride in their local area.

Offences which can incur a fine from the council include dropping litter, dog fouling, fly tipping and fly posting. Figures show that in this financial year to date more than 250 people have got away with not paying fixed penalties because the council has failed to enforce the fine.

Lib Dems can also reveal that there is a significant cost to the taxpayer in uncollected fines. In total there are over 600 uncollected fines over the last few years, this amounts to thousands of pounds.

Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member for Streetscene, said: -

"These shocking figures show that Labour are soft on litter louts. Collecting just 58% of the total fixed notice penalties handed out is a dismal record by anyone's standards and it's costing the Sheffield taxpayer thousands of pounds in uncollected fines"

"By being soft on those who spoil our environment, Labour are letting down the vast majority of people who take pride in preserving their local environment. The council should ensure that when a fine is handed out the money is collected, otherwise the whole system is flawed"

"I believe that the council should get tough with litter louts by introducing a zero-tolerance policy, which would mean greater enforcement. This would mean that of an individual is guilty of spoiling the environment for the rest of us, then there would be no getting out of paying their fine"