A resident has been prosecuted for littering in Orpington after failing to pay a fixed penalty notice, which highlights the council’s ongoing campaign to keep streets clean.

The prosecution is a reminder of the importance of not littering and follows an incident where a fixed penalty notice was issued after a cigarette end had been dropped. The littering incident took place in Orpington High Street in May 2024. When the £100 Fixed Penalty for littering was not paid, prosecution followed. Trevor Cordner of Homefield Close, Orpington was found guilty in his absence and ordered to pay a total of £731 in fines and costs.

A council spokesperson said, “Our residents rightly value litter-free streets. The council spends almost £5 million each year on street cleaning to ensure a clean and welcoming environment for all, with some of this work being undone by those who choose to litter. Littering is a serious problem and to do so is a criminal offence. Prosecution remains a last resort, and if payment for the fixed penalty notice had been received, a prosecution would have been avoided.”

This latest prosecution, along with other previous prosecutions also for littering, most recently last month, in October, was brought forward under section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which prohibits littering. These prosecutions serve as a warning to others to not discard unwanted items in the street, but to place them in a litter bin or take rubbish home.

To report street problems, visit the council website at www.bromley.gov.uk/report.

Visit www.bromley.gov.uk/Prosecutions to view the latest prosecutions.

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Notes to editors:

The defendant, Trevor Cordner of Homefield Close, Orpington, did not attend court, with the guilty verdict reached following a hearing at Bromley Magistrates Court on 5 November 2024, where the defendant was ordered to pay a fine of £220, a victim surcharge of £88, and £423 in prosecution costs, totalling £731.

For media enquiries, please contact David Aderogba, Public Affairs Officer, on 020 8466 3060 or email david.aderogba@bromley.gov.uk.

Published: 12th November 2024