ON-THE-SPOT fines for litter are likely to be introduced as part of an overhaul of the use of fixed penalty tickets by police.
The Guernsey Litter Forum has been in talks with police about extending the fixed penalty legislation to litter offences.
‘The forum is encouraging a new set of laws involving fixed penalty fines covering a multitude of things, ‘ said its chairman, Richard Brache.
‘We have asked for littering to be included in that.
‘Currently in order to prosecute someone for litter you ‘ve got to get them to court and if you report them you may have to go to court as a witness.
‘If a fixed penalty fine of £10, or £15, could be used on the spot, hopefully people will realise they can be done straightaway.
‘But we want it to be seen as a deterrent - we don ‘t particularly want people to be done. ‘
Mr Brache said that contacts with the Home Department had confirmed the fixed penalty review. The two parties are due to meet early next month to discuss the litter issue.
‘We would encourage them to move that along. We have various other ideas but I ‘m sure that ’s going to happen, but not quite sure when. ‘
Mr Brache admitted that, in isolation, fixed penalty fines would not have much impact on the island ’s litter problem.
‘On its own nothing is effective. The majority of what we do is education, mainly education of children. If you get them when they ‘re young you hopefully get to keep them. ‘
Police chief George Le Page confirmed that the fixed penalty system has been under review. Littering has been taken into consideration.
A States report on the issue is in the final stages of drafting.
Article posted on 16th August, 2004 - 12.00am
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