Government plans crackdown on environment crimes

A tough new approach to end the blight of litter, graffiti, fly-posting, abandoned vehicles and other anti-social environmental offences has been outlined today by Local Environmental Quality Minister Alun Michael.

Measures in Defra's 'Clean Neighbourhoods' approach will give local authorities new powers to crack down on the perpetrators of environmental crime, the minister said.

Under the plans, it will become an offence to drop litter anywhere, not just on public land as has been the case until now, making it easier to prosecute offenders.

Launching a consultation on the detailed proposals Mr Michael confirmed that he wanted the measures to become law "as soon as a legislative opportunity is available".

Alun Michael said: "People are tired of seeing the places where they live and work undervalued and undermined by a minority of anti-social individuals whose behaviour degrades the local environment for everyone.

"The proposals we are publishing today recognise that behaviour of this sort is part of a continuum, from low level environmental offences through to more threatening anti-social behaviour and crime. The different elements cannot be treated in isolation, and cannot be tackled by any one body or organisation alone.

He added: "Our streets, parks, open spaces, town centres, and village greens are great assets. They form the heart of our communities. They should be places where we can all be proud and confident. Today's proposals are central to the Government's goal of creating sustainable communities, by raising the standard of local environments and improving the quality of life for everyone."

Proposals in the Clean Neighbourhoods consultation call for: joined up action between local authorities and the police to assess issues like graffiti, fly-posting and litter; improved powers to deal with fly-tippers who dump rubbish illegally, including fixed penalty notices and the ability to instantly seize and impound vehicles involved in fly-tipping; and fixed penalty notices for a variety of environmental offences.

The consultation will end on 24 September 2004.

(gmcg)