Five-year-old girl fined £1,000 for fly-tipping

8 comments

1. ***The Telegraph reports***:

   A five-year-old girl has been fined £1,000 by her local council for fly-tipping.

   Conservative-run Harrow council wrote to the child in November 2024 claiming that she had been “witnessed by a uniformed officer… committing the offence of fly-tipping”.

   The north-west London authority issued her with the fixed penalty notice (FPN) and threatened court proceedings after a parcel with her name on it was found on a nearby street.

   The fine was later cancelled after a councillor raised their “ridiculous” case with the council.

   The girl’s father, who declined to be named, said the family received a letter addressed to his daughter on Nov 20 in which she was accused of fly-tipping.

   He said the offending parcel had originally been disposed of in “over-filled communal bins” at the block of flats where the family lives, which he said regularly went uncollected.

   The man claimed he had attempted to appeal the fine 10 times before attending a council advice session at Harrow’s library, where he was told to report it online or by telephone.

   # ‘Final reminder’ sent

   “I sent an email to the specified address but it bounced,” he said. “I called the council and after a 40-minute wait was put on to someone who told me that they could do nothing about this and then hung up.”

   On Dec 5, a “final reminder” letter was sent to his daughter demanding that the £1,000 be paid by Dec 19.

   The letter warned that the council’s enforcement team was set to begin “court proceedings against you”, which could result in a maximum fine of £2,500, legal costs and “a criminal record”.

   The father then approached Cllr Stephen Hickman who raised the case.

   **Full story:** [**https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/24/five-year-old-girl-fined-1000-for-flytipping/**](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/24/five-year-old-girl-fined-1000-for-flytipping/)

2. This is so stupid. Even ignoring she’s five, the evidence they use is so flimsy. Same when they give fines to people whose letter they find in bins, because it’s household waste. Only enforcement officers would be that petty. Besides, what if you pick up a letter on your way out, read it then throw it? Absolutely ridiculous and unfair.

3. How many times does this need posting ?

4. Well they would have less fly tipping if bins were emptied on time , and properly and less mantra ,take to recycling center when you don’t drive can’t carry and work so can’t book their feckin appointment times , it’s a farce

5. Should have let the council take her to court

6. All this shows that another Council doesn’t have any type of common sense and shows that they are thick as cow dung when it comes to applying abit of decency and logic….

   I know we’re trying to teach our kids to look after our planet and the local community but this isn’t the way.

   Another cash grab council leeches

7. While I agree the parents should be fined, £1,000 is far too much.

   I know the best way to promote good parenting is to affect their money, but this is a bit far, and I feel it encourages rebelliousness more than anything.

8. At what point does this type of behaviour from local councils become extortion? I thought the £1000 fines were reserved for gangs dumping skip loads of rubbish on country lanes, not boxes found in the street.

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