People who drop litter on Liverpool’s streets or do not clean up after their dogs will now face a much greater chance of being penalised.
Police and Community Support Officers (PCSOs) in the city have now been given powers to issue £80 on-the-spot penalty notices to people who litter, scrawl graffiti or allow their dogs to foul the streets.
This means an extra 40 officers – in addition to the 16 council officers who do this work – will be carrying out enforcement.
This move follows a summit convened earlier this year by the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, to discuss with businesses and other organisations how Liverpool can be made cleaner and greener.
“At the summit I promised we would get tough on the anti-social minority who drop litter, fly-tip or let their dogs foul our streets by having zero tolerance on this sort of activity,” said the Mayor, “and we would find ways in which we would increase the numbers of enforcement officers.
“We have now reached an agreement with the Chief Constable that PCSOs will have the power to hand out penalty notices and I am very grateful for his support.
“While the city council and our contractors have a major role in keeping the city clean we cannot do it all by ourselves. I want everybody to show pride in their city and make it cleaner and a more attractive place to live in, work in and visit.
“But it is not just about making Liverpool look brighter. Every year we clear 14,000 tons of litter off the city’s streets at a cost of £6.5million. At a time when we are under enormous budgetary pressure this is funding we can better use to protect other services.
“Having the PCSOs carrying out enforcement will make people think twice about dropping litter or they will pay the penalty – we are not going to tolerate those who mess up the city any longer.”
Chief Superintendent Rowley Moore, Merseyside Police Head of Community Engagement, said: “The force works with a range of partners, including Liverpool City Council, to make sure that the city is a safe and enjoyable place for people to both live and work.
“Police Community Support and Traffic Officers work hard in our communities helping to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and the new powers they have complement their existing role well.
“We know that litter, graffiti and dog-fouling are all issues which people want to be tackled and the officers’ ability to issue fixed penalty notices should help to achieve this.”
Councillor Steve Munby, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and waste services, said: “The emphasis at the Mayoral summit was working in partnership to make Liverpool cleaner and brighter and the agreement on the PCSOs is a great example of this.
“I hope that residents support the PCSOs by keeping the city clean and free from litter and graffiti.”
In the last two years £200,000 in fixed penalty notices have been issued in Liverpool with more than100 people prosecuted with the courts fining them an average of £175.
The Mayoral summit on the environment was attended by over 80 delegates from more than 60 businesses, community organisations, schools, housing associations, football cubs and other groups.
