Environmental Crime
Environmental crime covers those activities which are against the law and which are detrimental to our environment and our quality of life such as:
- Litter
- Dog fouling
- Flytipping
- Graffiti ;and
- flyposting
'Get the message' - Listen to our anti-litter advert.
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Litter
Leaving litter in a public place is an offence with a maximum penalty of £2500. The Council provides litter bins for you to put litter in, but even if they're full you have no excuse for not taking your litter home and disposing of it properly. This is especially the case with drivers - the road is not your ashtray or litter bin. The Council has to spend £6.8 million of your Council Tax money every year on street cleaning to clear up after a minority of people who have no respect for our environment.
Dog Fouling
If you allow your dog to foul in a public place and you fail to clean up after it you are breaking the law. Leaving dog mess in a public place not only makes the place its left untidy, but it can be trodden on and carried into someone's home. Dog mess can cause blindness if in contact with the eyes.
Imagine if it was the wheels of your pram or wheelchair that got covered in dog mess and think how you would feel?
The problem is easily avoided. Carry plastic bags with you and clear up after your pet. If there are no designated poop bins nearby you may double bag it and safely dispose of it in any litter bin, or take it home and put it in your own bin. Remember, clearing up after your dog is part of the deal of dog ownership.
If you are concerned about persistent dog fouling in your area report the details to Liverpool Direct on 233 3001. All information you supply is treated in confidence. It will help if you can give the following details:
- Name and address of dog owner
- Breed of dog or description of it
- Location(s) where the fouling takes place
- Your contact details.
Flytipping
Flytipping is the illegal depositing of waste onto land. Whether it's an old sofa or mattress, or drums of chemicals that are dumped, it's a serious offence. Dumping hazardous materials not only causes a danger to other people now but can cause long-term damage to land and watercourses.
If you are a householder, the Council provides a free collection service for large items through the Bulky Bob's scheme - see below for contact details.
If you need to dispose of large items which Bulky Bob's cannot collect or which cannot go into a wheelie bin and you need to use a private carrier, check that they are registered waste carriers. If they are not, there is a likelihood that your waste will end up dumped somewhere.
If "white van man's" prices seem cheap, it's probably because he is not paying tip fees at an authorised tip. The money he saves ends up being paid by you and other council tax payers because Liverpool City Council will have to remove the fly tipped waste.
To dispose of commercial waste you must have a contract with a registered waste carrier. If you dispose of business waste yourself at a tip you can only do so at a licensed tip and you will have to pay a fee.
To report flytipping, please view our Report it online page or contact:
Liverpool Direct - 233 3001
Environment Agency - 0800 80 70 60
Network Rail 08457 11 41 41
It will help if you can give the following details:
- the date, time and place where the tipping took place.
- a description of the waste - type, quantity.
- details of any vehicles involved - type of vehicle, registration number, make, model, colour.
Flyposting and grafitti
Liverpool has adopted a very pro-active approach to this controversial issue. It is seen by many as a blight on our City. Although it is an offence under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, it costs Councils thousands of pounds for the removal of flyposting.
Liverpool acts as a facilitator and co-ordinator between City Centre businesses and those undertaking the flyposting.
The aim of the scheme is to agree, with all parties, those areas where it is permitted to flypost. By arranging planning permissions for businesses and creating large frames on walls, flyposters are allowed to undertake their work but need to agree between themselves, the policing, removal and timescales for flyposting.
With 10 presently agreed sites and regular meetings between promoters and flyposters, it is clear that the city's aim of working with these partners is proving successful, resulting in a more controlled system of operating.
A similar strategy is being adopted addressing the graffiti problems encountered by the City.
By 'partnering' with those responsible for these activities it is further hoped to assist in stopping the employment of inappropriately young or 'cheap' daily labour and further assisting of the employment of local labour promoting local events.
For further information on any of these issues please contact The City Centre Neighbourhood Team on 225 4744.
The law
Litter - Environmental Protection Act 1990 s87, maximum penalty £2500.
Dog Fouling - Dogs (Fouling of Land ) Act 1996 s3, maximum penalty £1000
Flytipping - Environmental Protection Act 1990 s33, maximum penalty two years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.
Useful links
Encams-Keep Britain Tidy
www.encams.org
Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/localenv/index.htm
Bulky Bob's (call Liverpool Direct 233 3001)