A Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) is a notice served by an authorised enforcement officer to a person who has committed a criminal offence. They may be issued on the spot or through the post. They can be used for anti social behaviour and environmental crime.
Environmental crime includes a range of offences e.g. littering. Littering offences relate to the dropping or depositing of litter so regardless of whether or not you volunteer to pick up your litter afterwards, you have still committed an offence and will receive a FPN.
What is classed as litter?
Litter includes cigarette butts, chewing gum, food waste, packaging or a bag of waste discarded on the street. Littering can take place on any land (public or private) that the public have access to.
If you pay the fixed penalty fine, that is the end of the matter and there will be no criminal record.
How to pay the FPN
- Make a FPN payment online - see charges in the table below.
- In person: You may pay in person by taking a cheque, postal order, credit or debit card, to Access Bolton, Town Hall, Civic Centre, Bolton, BL1 1RU (open Mon – Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Telephone: You may pay by credit or with debit card over the telephone using 01204 338965 or 01204 331634 (Option 2).
You cannot pay the enforcement officer directly when you have been issued a fine and you cannot pay the fine in instalments.
What happens if I don't pay the FPN?
If you don’t pay and the offence is tried in Court, it may result in a criminal conviction with a bigger fine and a criminal record (which must be declared when applying for jobs, travelling etc.).
Please note that it is an offence to fail to give your name or give a false address to an authorised officer when asked and you could be prosecuted for failing to give these details.
FPN Appeals
Any appeal must be in writing within seven days of receiving the FPN and sent to:
Appeals,
Ellesmere House,
Mayor Street Depot,
Ellesmere Street,
Bolton,
BL3 5DT.
Lodging an appeal does not suspend the dates given for payment.
FPN charges
The cost of an FPN depends on the offence and these costs are listed below along with the possible conviction costs if the matter goes to court.
If you fail to pay the correct amount you may be liable for prosecution.
Fixed Penalty Notice Costs
|
Description of offence |
Amount if paid within 10 days |
Amount if paid within 14 days |
Maximum penalty upon conviction |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Littering (FPN) |
£175 |
£300 |
£2,500 |
|
Failing to remove dog faeces (FPN) |
£100 |
£100 |
£1,000 |
|
PSPO – Failing to keep a dog on a lead |
£100 |
£100 |
£1,000 |
|
PSPO – Allowing a dog to enter a designated area |
£100 |
£100 |
£1,000 |
|
PSPO – Failing to put and keep a dog on a lead when directed. |
£100 |
£100 |
£1,000 |
|
An offence in relation to a domestic waste receptacle |
£100 |
£100 |
Civil Penalty |
|
An offence in relation to a commercial waste receptacle |
£75 |
£100 |
£1,000 |
|
Unauthorised distribution of free printed matter |
£50 |
£75 |
£2,500 |
|
Community Protection Notice |
£100 |
£100 |
Individual £2,500 Business £20,000 |
|
PSPO Public Spaces Protection Order |
£100 |
£100 |
£1,000 |
|
Failure to produce a waste carriers Licence |
£300 |
£300 |
£5,000 |
|
Failure to produce waste transfer notes |
£300 |
£300 |
£5,000 |
|
Painting or writing on; soiling marking or otherwise defacing any property by whatever means |
£50 |
£75 |
£5,000 |
|
Fly-tipping |
£450 |
£600 |
Unlimited |
|
Litter From vehicle |
£175 |
£300 |
Civil Penalty |
|
Household duty of care |
£450 |
£600 |
£5,000 |