Street care and cleaning Fixed penalty notices
What is a fixed penalty notice (FPN)?
A penalty issued by an authorised officer in response to specific environmental offences. FPNs provide a prompt, visible and effective means of addressing lower-level offences without requiring formal court proceedings. An FPN isn't a court-imposed fine; instead, it offers the recipient an opportunity to discharge liability for prosecution by paying the specified penalty.
What offences may result in an FPN?
Authorised officers may issue FPNs for a range of environmental and waste‑related offences, including:
- Failure to produce waste carrier registration documents
- Failure to produce a waste transfer note when requested
- Littering (dropping litter in any public place)
- Allowing a dog to foul pavements or public amenity spaces without removing the waste
- Failure to comply with dog control requirements, including keeping a dog on a lead where required or allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control or aggressive
- Fly‑posting
- Fly‑tipping
- Duty of care offences under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, including failure to manage, store, transfer or dispose of waste responsibly, or failure to ensure waste is transferred only to an authorised person
How much is a FPN?
Penalties currently range from £75 to £500, depending on the type and seriousness of the offence. A discretionary discount may be applied for first-time offences or where mitigating circumstances are identified.
Do offenders have to pay immediately?
No. Recipients are given 14 days to pay the penalty. If payment isn't received within this time limit, the matter may proceed to prosecution.
What happens if someone refuses to give their details?
It's an offence to refuse to provide a name or address, or to provide false information, when lawfully requested by an authorised officer. Failure to provide accurate details may result in prosecution.
What happens when an FPN is paid?
Payment of an FPN results in no further action being taken in relation to that specific offence. Payment doesn't constitute an admission of guilt, but it prevents the matter from proceeding to court, where higher penalties and a potential criminal record may be imposed.
What happens if I refuse to pay?
If the penalty isn't paid, the matter will be referred to the courts for prosecution.
How do I pay?
You can pay online or over the phone on 0345 678 9006. You can also pay by cash, card or cheque at any customer service point, or by posting a cheque (along with the payment slip) to the address shown on the FPN.
Can I appeal?
There are no formal statutory grounds of appeal, as an FPN provides the opportunity to settle liability without prosecution. By choosing to pay the penalty, the recipient acknowledges that an offence has occurred and that no further action will be taken.
Although there's no formal appeals process, recipients may contact the Environmental Enforcement Team manager if they believe the FPN has been issued incorrectly. Any challenge must:
- Be submitted within 14 days of the date of issue, and
- Include the FPN reference number
Only one challenge will be considered per notice.