A group of 10 litterers have been fined more than £3,000 between them for littering in Medway and failing to pay a fixed penalty notice.
Of the 10 cases heard, nine were for dropping cigarette butts, with offenders racking up a grand total of £3,166.
The offences all took place in November last year.
Nine of the cases were heard through the Single Justice Procedure process at East Berkshire Magistrates Court in July 2024.
- Alina Dolia, 33, of Meadow Bank Road, Chatham was ordered to pay £304 after failing to pay a fixed penalty notice after they were seen dropping a cigarette butt on to the ground and leave it on High Street, Chatham on 21 November 2023.
- Kerry Evans, 45, of Palmerston Road, Chatham was ordered to pay £304 after failing to pay a fixed penalty notice after they were seen dropping a cigarette on to the ground and leave it at The Brook, Chatham on 22 November 2023.
- Liberty Francis, 19, of Keyes Avenue, Chatham was ordered to pay £304 after failing to pay a fixed penalty notice after they were seen dropping a cigarette butt on to the ground and leave it on High Street, Chatham on 21 November 2023.
- Sarah Jordan, 35, of Shipwrights Avenue, Chatham was ordered to pay £304 after failing to pay a fixed penalty notice after they were seen dropping a cigarette butt on to the ground and leave it at The Brook, Chatham on 30 November 2023.
- Natalie Palfreyman, 39, of Hazlemere Drive, Gillingham was ordered to pay £304 after failing to pay a fixed penalty notice after they were seen dropping coffee cup packaging into a trolley and leave on Duncan Road, Gillingham on 24 November 2023.
- Mary Taylor, 49, of Cavendish Avenue, Gillingham was ordered to pay £304 after failing to pay a fixed penalty notice after they were seen dropping a cigarette butt on to the ground and leave it on Gillingham Road, Gillingham on 24 November 2023.
- Jacqueline Tutty, 50, of Cornwallis Avenue, Gillingham was ordered to pay £304 after failing to pay a fixed penalty notice after they were seen dropping a cigarette butt on to the ground and leave it on Duncan Road, Gillingham on 22 November 2023.
- Zilvinas Zaltauskas, 27, of Parr Avenue, Gillingham was ordered to pay £304 after failing to pay a fixed penalty notice after they were seen dropping a cigarette butt on to the ground and leave it at a car park on Maidstone Road, Chatham on 23 November 2023.
- Pamela Zupkova, 25, of Salisbury Road, Chatham was ordered to pay £304 after failing to pay a fixed penalty notice after they were seen dropping a cigarette butt on to the ground and leave it on High Street, Gillingham on 24 November 2023.
One defendant returned a not guilty plea, their case was heard at Medway Magistrates Court in August 2024.
- Declan Hawker, 53, of Gillingham Road, Gillingham, was ordered to pay £430 after failing to pay a fixed penalty notice after they were seen dropping a cigarette butt and leave it in High Street, Gillingham on 30 November 2023.
Cllr Alex Paterson, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Highways and Enforcement, said: “These cases send the message that if you drop litter in Medway then you face the very real risk of being prosecuted.
“Littering in Medway is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. For as long as a small minority continue to do it, I will make no apology for using these powers on behalf of the law-abiding majority, and in support of those who help maintain our public spaces and keep Medway tidy.”
To reduce the risk of harm from smoking, residents who want to stub out the habit for good are encouraged to get in touch with Medway Council’s Stop Smoking Service.
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 allows for authorised officers to issue fixed penalty notices on any land the public has access to. Our contracted litter enforcement agents patrol across Medway including in the area’s high streets, greenspaces, supermarket car parks and other areas which have high levels of littering.