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Council on-the-spot fines exploit residents, Eric Pickles warns Council on-the-spot fines exploit residents, Eric Pickles warns
(7 months later)
Councils exploit residents as "cash cows" by levying excessive fines for "petty or insignificant breaches" of municipal rules, Eric Pickles, the local government minister, has warned.Councils exploit residents as "cash cows" by levying excessive fines for "petty or insignificant breaches" of municipal rules, Eric Pickles, the local government minister, has warned.
Backing an investigation into the surge in on-the-spot penalties, the Conservative politician has condemned the use of external contractors, whose rewards depend on how much they raise, for undermining public confidence and "the quality of justice".Backing an investigation into the surge in on-the-spot penalties, the Conservative politician has condemned the use of external contractors, whose rewards depend on how much they raise, for undermining public confidence and "the quality of justice".
Pickles' comments came in response to a report, entitled Pavement Injustice, by the libertarian pressure group the Manifesto Club, according to which the annual number of summary fines rose from 13,926 in 2001-2 to 226,640 in 2011-12.Pickles' comments came in response to a report, entitled Pavement Injustice, by the libertarian pressure group the Manifesto Club, according to which the annual number of summary fines rose from 13,926 in 2001-2 to 226,640 in 2011-12.
The study highlights the wide range of activities punished by on-the-spot fines including, it maintains, £80 tickets for behaviour that would previously have been tried in a court as theft or criminal damage.The study highlights the wide range of activities punished by on-the-spot fines including, it maintains, £80 tickets for behaviour that would previously have been tried in a court as theft or criminal damage.
Punishments have been handed out for putting up lost cat posters, feeding ducks or handing out leaflets, according to the report, which is subtitled How On-the-Spot Fines are Undermining the Rule of Law.Punishments have been handed out for putting up lost cat posters, feeding ducks or handing out leaflets, according to the report, which is subtitled How On-the-Spot Fines are Undermining the Rule of Law.
The study documents both the rapid expansion in-out-of court disposals and the increased reliance of local authorities on fixed-penalty notices. Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) can be handed out by police officers, police community support officers, private security guards and council workers; fixed-penalty notices are given out by local authorities.The study documents both the rapid expansion in-out-of court disposals and the increased reliance of local authorities on fixed-penalty notices. Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) can be handed out by police officers, police community support officers, private security guards and council workers; fixed-penalty notices are given out by local authorities.
Some police forces, the report says, are empowered to issue fines to those aged between 10 and 15. The use of council fines has grown to include littering, fly-tipping, dog-fouling, truancy, leafleting without a licence and walking dogs in no-dog zones.Some police forces, the report says, are empowered to issue fines to those aged between 10 and 15. The use of council fines has grown to include littering, fly-tipping, dog-fouling, truancy, leafleting without a licence and walking dogs in no-dog zones.
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