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| Litter fines 'cash cow' for London councils | Litter fines 'cash cow' for London councils |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| By Matthew Lynch and Ed Davey BBC Inside Out, London | By Matthew Lynch and Ed Davey BBC Inside Out, London |
| Litter fines are being used as a cash cow by councils employing "private police forces", a BBC investigation suggests. | Litter fines are being used as a cash cow by councils employing "private police forces", a BBC investigation suggests. |
| The number of litter fines issued by English councils has rocketed from 727 in 1997 to 63,883 last year. | The number of litter fines issued by English councils has rocketed from 727 in 1997 to 63,883 last year. |
| Now Inside Out has discovered three councils in London effectively incentivise XFor, a private company, to issue as many fines as possible. | Now Inside Out has discovered three councils in London effectively incentivise XFor, a private company, to issue as many fines as possible. |
| The councils insist their only goal is to keep streets clean. | The councils insist their only goal is to keep streets clean. |
| But figures obtained by BBC Inside Out show all three experienced overnight surges in ticketing after employing XFor. | But figures obtained by BBC Inside Out show all three experienced overnight surges in ticketing after employing XFor. |
| Bromley Council saw the number of monthly £80 fines leap from four to 618. | Bromley Council saw the number of monthly £80 fines leap from four to 618. |
| In Hillingdon the number shot from zero to 597, while in Enfield fines more than doubled to 360. | In Hillingdon the number shot from zero to 597, while in Enfield fines more than doubled to 360. |
| Last year in Hillingdon and Enfield, 97% and 94% of fines respectively were for dropping cigarette butts. | Last year in Hillingdon and Enfield, 97% and 94% of fines respectively were for dropping cigarette butts. |
| Josie Appleton, founder of civil liberties group the Manifesto Club, said: "Cigarette butts are easy to catch - wardens simply find a group of smokers at a bus stop and watch until someone drops a cigarette. | Josie Appleton, founder of civil liberties group the Manifesto Club, said: "Cigarette butts are easy to catch - wardens simply find a group of smokers at a bus stop and watch until someone drops a cigarette. |
| "Perversely, when butts become such a lucrative source of revenue, councils lose interest in persuading people not to drop them in the first place. | "Perversely, when butts become such a lucrative source of revenue, councils lose interest in persuading people not to drop them in the first place. |
| "Few councils provide cigarette disposal bins, and smokers believe they shouldn't put their butt in an ordinary bin because it would risk fire." | "Few councils provide cigarette disposal bins, and smokers believe they shouldn't put their butt in an ordinary bin because it would risk fire." |
| In Bromley the BBC twice witnessed XFor litter wardens standing out of sight before issuing fines to smokers. Neither was given a warning. | In Bromley the BBC twice witnessed XFor litter wardens standing out of sight before issuing fines to smokers. Neither was given a warning. |
| 'Terrified' | 'Terrified' |
| One of those fined, Rachel Cullen, a student, said: "I got a tap on my shoulder - I panicked and thought I'd started a fire. | One of those fined, Rachel Cullen, a student, said: "I got a tap on my shoulder - I panicked and thought I'd started a fire. |
| "It didn't occur to me dropping a cigarette was the crime. | "It didn't occur to me dropping a cigarette was the crime. |
| "They didn't tell me who they were - I was terrified." | "They didn't tell me who they were - I was terrified." |
| Unlike with parking fines, the only appeal option is before magistrates - where Ms Cullen said was warned she might face a £2,000 fine. | Unlike with parking fines, the only appeal option is before magistrates - where Ms Cullen said was warned she might face a £2,000 fine. |
| XFor typically receives £45 per ticket issued. | XFor typically receives £45 per ticket issued. |
| The company's website insisted its officers will issue enough fines to cover wardens' pay, saying: "Through careful auditing it's ensured XFor generate the income to cover the service from penalties issued." | The company's website insisted its officers will issue enough fines to cover wardens' pay, saying: "Through careful auditing it's ensured XFor generate the income to cover the service from penalties issued." |
| Ms Appleton warns financial incentives have led to private police forces - with the official issuing the fine directly or indirectly benefitting. | Ms Appleton warns financial incentives have led to private police forces - with the official issuing the fine directly or indirectly benefitting. |
| She said: "Their concern becomes not public service, but looking for people to fine. | She said: "Their concern becomes not public service, but looking for people to fine. |
| "There's no room for leniency - every missed fine is missed income. | "There's no room for leniency - every missed fine is missed income. |
| "This goes against hard-won principles. Since the 19th century it's been established officials shouldn't benefit from their position." | "This goes against hard-won principles. Since the 19th century it's been established officials shouldn't benefit from their position." |
| Her research shows 15 local authorities in England issue half the litter fines. | Her research shows 15 local authorities in England issue half the litter fines. |
| Despite their comparatively small size, four of the top ten issuers were London boroughs: Newham, Enfield, Hillingdon and Islington. | Despite their comparatively small size, four of the top ten issuers were London boroughs: Newham, Enfield, Hillingdon and Islington. |
| 'Transparent' | 'Transparent' |
| The Magistrate's Association believes the situation is dangerous. | The Magistrate's Association believes the situation is dangerous. |
| Chairman John Fassenfelt said: "Magistrate's Court is much more transparent and consistent. It delivers justice over and above what the private company can deliver. | Chairman John Fassenfelt said: "Magistrate's Court is much more transparent and consistent. It delivers justice over and above what the private company can deliver. |
| "Private companies don't report to anybody, the public can't question it - there's very limited appeal provisions." | "Private companies don't report to anybody, the public can't question it - there's very limited appeal provisions." |
| An XFor spokeswoman said: "We understand concerns raised with regard to alleged incentivising private enforcement services. | An XFor spokeswoman said: "We understand concerns raised with regard to alleged incentivising private enforcement services. |
| "We offer a menu of payment options. This includes daily rates as well as a percentage of the revenue from each appropriately raised fixed penalty notice. | "We offer a menu of payment options. This includes daily rates as well as a percentage of the revenue from each appropriately raised fixed penalty notice. |
| "The vast majority of clients choose the second option to maximise cost effectiveness and achieve cost neutrality." | "The vast majority of clients choose the second option to maximise cost effectiveness and achieve cost neutrality." |
| She added: "The only people affected by our presence are individuals that leave litter." | She added: "The only people affected by our presence are individuals that leave litter." |
| Funding shortfalls | Funding shortfalls |
| Bromley Council deputy leader Colin Smith said: "It's a hard line policy. We're keen to drive the message - residents are sick to death of littering. | Bromley Council deputy leader Colin Smith said: "It's a hard line policy. We're keen to drive the message - residents are sick to death of littering. |
| "The genesis of the scheme is that we won't put up with it any longer. | "The genesis of the scheme is that we won't put up with it any longer. |
| "We do not issue warnings." | "We do not issue warnings." |
| The council insists the programme only breaks even. Councillor Smith said: "It's not a big milk cow." | The council insists the programme only breaks even. Councillor Smith said: "It's not a big milk cow." |
| Litter fines rose steeply after a 2005 act allowed councils greater flexibility in the use of the revenue. | Litter fines rose steeply after a 2005 act allowed councils greater flexibility in the use of the revenue. |
| The increase came as councils faced funding shortfalls over the recession - and an associated fall in parking tickets. | The increase came as councils faced funding shortfalls over the recession - and an associated fall in parking tickets. |
| Even councils with in-house litter enforcement face profiteering claims. | Even councils with in-house litter enforcement face profiteering claims. |
| Islington Council issued 2,348 fines last year - compared to 122 and 78 in neighbouring boroughs Hackney and Camden. | Islington Council issued 2,348 fines last year - compared to 122 and 78 in neighbouring boroughs Hackney and Camden. |
| All three are of similar size and demographics. | All three are of similar size and demographics. |
| Opposition leader in Islington, Terry Stacy (Liberal Democrat), said: "They're looking at residents as a cash cow. | Opposition leader in Islington, Terry Stacy (Liberal Democrat), said: "They're looking at residents as a cash cow. |
| "All they're interested in is screwing as much money out of them as possible." | "All they're interested in is screwing as much money out of them as possible." |
| But Councillor Paul Smith (Labour), said: "Over 7,000 tonnes of litter are dropped on our streets every year. | But Councillor Paul Smith (Labour), said: "Over 7,000 tonnes of litter are dropped on our streets every year. |
| "Stopping littering is one way we can save money - and keep important services like our libraries open." | "Stopping littering is one way we can save money - and keep important services like our libraries open." |
| Responding to the investigation, Local Government Minister Brandon Lewis said: "Those who harm the environment by shamelessly littering and fly-tipping should be brought to book. | |
| "But councils shouldn't be using residents as cash cows and shouldn't be persecuting people for petty or insignificant breaches." | |
| BBC Inside Out is on BBC One in the London region on Monday, 28 January at 19:30 GMT and nationwide on the iPlayer for seven days following transmission. |