Offences and fines
We can fine or prosecute you if you are caught:
- dropping litter
- not picking up after your dog fouls
- dropping chewing gum
- fly-tipping
- spraying/painting graffiti
Litter
It is a criminal offence to drop litter on the street or in a public area. If you are caught dropping litter then you may be given a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). Litter can be defined as anything that you drop in these areas from cigarette butts to a rubbish bag. The penalty amount is £150 which must be paid within 14 days from the issue date. If you do not pay the penalty then you could end up in Magistrates’ Court where you could get a fine of up to £2,500 and a criminal record.
Dog fouling
It is an offence if you do not pick up your dog's mess after it has fouled in a public area. This includes roads, pathways and parks. If you do not pick up after your dog then you can be in breach of the Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order.
Chewing gum
Chewing gum is extremely difficult and expensive to remove. Chewing gum counts as litter and therefore you can be fined and prosecuted if caught dropping it.
You can dispose of your gum using:
- gum targets
- litter bins
- or wrap it up and take it home with you
Gum targets, currently a selection of emojis, are typically found in areas where there are a lot of people. You can find them in:
- Ilford Town Centre
- Barkingside High Street
- Manford Way, Hainault
We encourage you to stick your chewing gum on these targets which are usually attached to lamp posts. We try to select areas where there is a high number of people. If you would like to suggest an area that will benefit from gum targets then please contact us on 020 8554 5000.
Fly tipping
Fly-tipping is where rubbish has been dumped onto any land without permission. It is an offence and anyone caught doing it may be liable for prosecution. If you know of anyone or witness an incident of fly tipping, you can help us take action and let us know by filling in our online report it form or by calling our Customer Contact Centre on 020 8554 5000.
Graffiti
If you see graffiti on any public street, area or park you can report it to us us and we will remove it within 3 working days. Any graffiti that is racist or homophobic is always prioritised with an aim to get it removed within 24 hours.
If someone is caught painting graffiti they can be prosecuted. If you have graffiti on your property, whether private or business then we can remove it but you could be charged depending on the nature of the graffiti.
If you would like to report any graffiti to us, you can do so by filling in our online report it form or by calling our Customer Contact Centre on 020 8554 5000.
Spitting
We want to discourage spitting as it is a disgusting habit and is often thought to have a number of potential health implications. We are looking into introducing a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in the Ilford Town Centre area that would make spitting in these public places a criminal offence, with offenders facing a fine.
Before a PSPO can come into place we need to go through a number of steps. We are now consulting on the PSPO and spitting is one element of it. Should the process move smoothly, it will be implemented in the New Year. We had consulted the Secretary of State regarding the introduction of a bye law for spitting but we were advised to use the powers in a PSPO.
Pay a Fixed Penalty Notice
You can pay a fixed penalty notice online or by check. Visit our FPN page for more information and how to pay.
