Pendle News Room

District Enforcement Ltd will work across all parts of Pendle for a 12 month trial at no cost to the Council.
“We’re having a new crackdown on people who are bringing parts of Pendle down,” explained Councillor Paul White, Leader of Pendle Council.

“As councillors, the number one complaint we get is about dog dirt and littering! 
“We’ve listened to residents and we’re taking tough action to clamp down on those who litter and on people who don’t clean up after their dogs.

The new team of uniformed enforcers with cameras started work on Monday 18th February and are giving people who litter or don’t clear up after their dogs strong warnings this week.
“From Monday 25 February they’ll stop issuing warnings and offenders will get  on the spot fines,” warned David Alexander, who oversees Pendle Council’s Environmental Crime Team
“Littering is an environmental crime and the fine for littering has recently increased from £75 to £150, or £80 for early payment.  “This includes cigarette butts,” he warned.

“And the fine for dog fouling has increased from £75 to £100,” he stated.

Pendle Council has also increased the fine for littering from a vehicle from £75 to £150.

Warren Hodgson, the National Operations Manager for District Enforcement said:

“We’ll be covering all areas of Pendle and concentrating on known problem hotspots.

“Our officers are equipped with cameras for our protection and for public protection and in case of complaints to show that we are treating people in a polite and friendly way,” he explained.  

Local people can flag up problem hotspots for littering and dog fouling online  www.pendle.gov.uk/doitonline  and should provide as many details as possible to help Pendle Council catch the culprits. 

Councillor White said:  “The aim is simply to make Pendle a cleaner place, because it’s infuriating for those residents who do look after our area to see others spoiling it”.

Having the new team of enforcers will free up time for Pendle Council’s Environmental Crime Officers to tackle lengthier problems such as investigating fly tips and work to bring the culprits to court.

“We have one of the best Environmental Crime teams in the country and have been featured in three TV series of Dom on the Spot, catching and fining people for fly-tipping and littering,” said David Alexander.

“This is a huge task and whereas previously we couldn’t cover every area of Pendle and also devote the investigation time needed to tackle fly tipping, we can now get tougher on people who carry out offences in our area,” he said.
 
Feedback from over 500 people who took part in the Council’s recent Life in Pendle survey shows that clean streets and tackling the problems of littering and dog fouling are top priorities for people.

Pendle Council’s decision to introduce the new team follows finding out how teams of district enforcers have worked well in other areas,  including Rossendale and Blackburn with Darwen.