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Tom Amanis, 11, knows always to put litter in the bin but says it would take children ‘ages’ to pay a fine out of their pocket money.
Tom Amanis, 11, knows always to put litter in the bin but says it would take children ‘ages’ to pay a fine out of their pocket money.

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Kids face £40 litter fines

Exclusive by Ben Turner
30/ 7/2008

LITTER louts as young as ten face £40 on-the-spot fines under new council proposals.

Town Hall bosses want to hit youngsters’ pockets in a bid to stamp out the next generation of Macclesfield litterbugs.

Council enforcement officers will hand fixed penalty notices out to children while patrolling the town’s streets if new powers are approved by cabinet next month.

Combining community service and even an "apology" from a parent in the punishment is also being considered.

But there are fears that far from educating parents as is hoped, the fines – more than many times most youngsters’ pocket money – will lead to anger directed at children from families already struggling financially.

Rob Wardle, who runs the Cre8 youth project on the Moss Estate, said: "I fear a ten-year-old is going to get a whack around the ear because they are costing their parents more money and they are not always that understanding in some of the families we deal with.

"I think ten is too young to be given a fine, and how is it going to be enforced?

"It is illegal for young people to drink in the street, but they still do it because it isn’t enforced."

He said younger children should be given a warning first.

Mother-of-one Jenny Amanis, 20, of Earlsway, Macclesfield, called the proposal "stupid".

"How are they going to pay it?" she said. "It would be down to the parent and unfortunately we don’t know what they are doing when they are out of our sight."

Her brother Tom, 11, said: "I littered once and I got told off.

"I know it is wrong and I have known for ages."

He gets pocket money when he is good and admitted that paying a £40 fine would take "ages".

Paul Morgan, Streetscene corporate manager and charged with introducing the scheme, said: "I was certainly taught that littering was the wrong thing to do before the age of ten and we need to get to all members of the community.

"Around schools, particularly at lunchtimes, there are littering hotspots around shopping parades for example.

"We have very clean and tidy streets but they could be cleaner and tidier."

No new staff are being hired and the existing ten-strong environmental enforcement team will add the patrols to duties tackling fly-tippers and advising residents.

Councillor Roger West, the council’s cabinet member for Streetscene, said: "My observation is that youngsters are some of the biggest perpetrators of littering.

"It is about discipline. From ten-years-old they know what they are doing is wrong."

A spokeswoman for civil rights group Liberty said: "What happens if they do not pay – do we really want to start criminalising children and their parents because a child drops litter?

"Many families may not be able to afford to pay."

If the powers are passed by cabinet on August 20, ten to 15-year-olds will be fined £40 (£30 if within 14 days), to add to existing fines for 16 and 17-year-olds of £75 (£56 within 14 days) and adults £80 (£60 within 14 days).

The policy would be rolled out as part of MBC’s environmental quality strategy in October.

Macclesfield would not be the first council to fine ten-year-olds for littering. Bolton and Easington in County Durham are among those already doing so.

What do you think? Will fines prompt parents to instill better behaviour into their children and deter kids from dropping litter? Or is it wrong to virtually criminalise ten-year-old children who are often mischievious? Let us know your views. Write to us at Letters Page, Macclesfield Express, 37 Chestergate, Macclesfield, SK11 6AL. Email us at macclesfieldexpress@menwn.co.uk, or click on 'Submit comment'.


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Most recent 2 of 13 user comments

   We all know the importance of good parenting but this is a short term measure designed to have a quick impact on peoples habits - changing parenting culture is asking to change lots of things in Society and that is a challenge. I remember a friend of mine getting picked up from my house back in the Mid 80's, his Mum dropped about 5 or 6 empty cigarette boxes onto our street and the contents of the ashtray as well. Its nothing new. At the Parkside fun day (or whatever it was called) there used to be a competition to see which kid could collect the most litter, i remember the prize being a Michael Jackson poster! That didnt seem much of an incentive so maybe a stick rather than a carrot is the way ahead.
The Satisfied Customer
5/08/2008 at 04:11
   s.c. it does seem that kids grow up quicker these days but i think thats because so many of them are raising themselves and have too much freedom. they are missing the rudiments of social concience, caused mainly by poor parenting, therefore it makes sense to hold the parents accountable.
lesley harmston
4/08/2008 at 16:10
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