More than 4,700 fines were issued for street littering in Bedford between 2022 and 2024 — with the majority for discarded cigarette butts, a council committee has heard.
At a meeting of Bedford Borough Council’s Environment and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Thursday), members were told that cigarette litter, spitting and public urination remain persistent problems, especially in the town centre.
Paul Pace, the council’s chief officer for environment, said, “There were 4,277 fixed penalty notices issued for cigarette butts. It still shocks me to find people still throwing away cigarette butts after all the social media, press coverage, and the work we’ve done.
“They get washed into the channels and often into the river where ducks and wildlife eat them. They’re a real nuisance.”
The figures also revealed:
- 348 FPNs were issued for spitting in public
- 133 FPNs for urinating in public
Most of these offences occurred in Bedford town centre, an area of high footfall.
“It’s not particularly pleasant when people walk in other people’s spit,” said Mr Pace. “Again, quite a lot of urinating happens too.”
He also stressed that issuing fines is not an income-generating activity for the council, but part of a wider strategy to tackle environmental crime.
Under current legislation, anyone caught littering can face a £150 fixed penalty notice, reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days.
Littering offences include the improper disposal of smoking materials, food and drink packaging, and other waste left in public spaces.
A report to the committee reinforced the council’s commitment to using enforcement powers, including prosecution, to deter offenders and keep Bedford clean.
Taken from a report provided by John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
