Harrow Council has reversed its decision after attempting to fine a five-year-old girl £1,000 for an alleged fly-tipping offence.
The council’s environmental enforcement team issued a fixed penalty notice (FPN) to the young girl on November 20, claiming she was “witnessed by a uniformed officer… committing the offence of fly-tipping.”
The fine was based on parcel packaging bearing the child’s name, which was discovered discarded on a street some distance from her home.
Her father criticized the move as “absurd,” attributing the incident to “over-filled communal bins” at their block of flats rather than deliberate wrongdoing.
On December 5, a five-year-old girl received a “final reminder” letter from Harrow Council’s enforcement team, warning that legal proceedings were imminent unless a £1,000 fine for alleged fly-tipping was paid. The letter also stated that a conviction could result in a maximum penalty of £2,500.
The fine, which was issued after parcel packaging with the child’s name was found on a street, was later cancelled following public scrutiny. The girl’s father, who prefers to remain anonymous to protect her identity, struggled to resolve the issue through email and phone before seeking help at a local ward surgery held by Council Stephen Hickman.
Hickman criticized the handling of the case, stating, “While it is right that the council enforces fly-tipping laws, residents expect a fair process with accurate information and a transparent appeals process. Charging a child is ridiculous, and the process has been very stressful for their father.”
A spokesperson for APCOA, the council’s contractor responsible for issuing fixed penalty notices (FPNs), apologized to the family and confirmed the fine had been cancelled. They added, “We have taken steps to avoid similar situations in the future as this case did not meet our usual high standards of service.”
The issue was raised at a recent council cabinet meeting, where Council Pritesh Patel, portfolio holder for cleaner streets and public safety, reiterated that it is not council policy to fine children and pledged to review the case.
Harrow Council leader, Council Paul Osborn, also condemned the incident, saying, “I’d like to meet a child who could afford to pay a £1,000 fine at five-years-old. Obviously, that is totally unacceptable, and we will look into these accusations.”
“Charity Raises Concerns Over Fly-Tipped Bins Becoming a Growing Trend”
A cancer charity has expressed concern that fly-tipping may become a persistent issue after rubbish was repeatedly dumped outside its shop in north Cornwall.
Staff at Cornwall Hospice Care’s Bude shop reported a recent increase in fly-tipping, including one incident involving six bags of food waste, recycling, and household rubbish left outside the premises.
Some locals and shop staff believe the rise could be linked to new restrictions on domestic waste collection and the introduction of a booking system for recycling centres. However, Cornwall Council stated it has “not received any increased reports of fly-tipping.”
The charity described the situation as “worrying,” adding, “Will they come back to a stack of bags outside the shop when they reopen in the new year?”
‘Extra costs’
A spokesperson for the cancer charity confirmed that six bags of waste recently dumped outside its Bude shop had been removed by an unknown party, sparing the charity any costs on this occasion. However, the spokesperson warned that if fly-tipping persists, the charity may have to bear the expense of rubbish removal.
Residents in north-east Cornwall transitioned to a new waste collection system in November as part of a phased rollout by Cornwall Council. The updated system limits each household to one wheelie bin collection every two weeks, equivalent to three or four sacks of rubbish.
Additionally, a new booking system for recycling centers was extended to Bude in late November, requiring residents to reserve time slots for visits.
Cornwall Council stated that data on fly-tipping since the changes were introduced is not yet available but noted it has “not received any increased reports of fly-tipping.” A spokesperson encouraged residents to provide feedback on the booking system trial and emphasized that fly-tipping can be reported online or by phone.
The shop highlighted the potential financial impact of dealing with dumped waste, urging residents to be mindful of how they dispose of rubbish.
“Please be mindful of where you dispose of your waste and the effect this has on our local community,” the charity said.
