06/04/2006

Powers to tackle graffiti and littering come into force

New powers to enable local authorities to tackle a range of environmental crimes and anti-social behaviour, such as graffiti, littering and fly tipping, have come into force today.

Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act, on-the-spot fines for littering, spraying graffiti and putting up fly-posters will be increased to £80.

People who leave domestic rubbish out at the wrong times will be fined up to £100, while businesses which breach laws on waste disposal will be fined up to £300.

Anyone who abandons a vehicle will now be fined £200.

The new powers also include measures to allow local authorities to enter a property to silence a burglar alarm which has been ringing for over 20 minutes without any signs of a robbery.

Local authorities will also be able to issue fine of up to £100 for nuisance parking, offering two or more vehicles for sale or repairing a vehicle on the road as part of a business and issue charges to stores for the recovery of abandoned shopping trolleys.

Minister for Local Environment Quality Ben Bradshaw said that local authorities now had a "complete package" of powers to make streets cleaner, safer and quieter. He said: "The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act is the most significant change in local environment quality legislation for 15 years.

"It's something that local authorities have asked - and it's therefore something they need to use.

"The powers we have given them are easier to use, more effective and more cost efficient than anything they have had before.

"And I see no reason why we won't start seeing a marked difference in the quality of our neighbourhoods within the next two or three years."

(KMcA)

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