Council hands out 6,600 fines, insists it really didn't want to

North Lincolnshire Council has issued more than 6,600 fines in three years to people who drop litter or break antisocial behaviour rules. That's a lot of people who apparently mistook the pavement for a bin.

In the last year alone it issued 2,445 fixed penalty notices. That's up almost 19 per cent on the year before. Business is booming, sadly.

Since March, officers have also been fining irresponsible parking, with 341 penalty notices so far. They're targeting problem spots such as the roads around schools. You know the ones. Hazards on, "I'll only be a minute", parked across three driveways.

Enforcement officers deal with littering, dog fouling and breaches of Public Spaces Protection Orders. The council has extended the contract for another three years.

Council leader Rob Waltham said: "If people expect others to tidy up after them, or show no consideration to others, they will pay."

Cllr John Davison added: "that's 6,600 fines we did not want to issue but make no apologies for doing so." Reluctant, but very consistent.