Tougher fines planned as council looks to renew anti-social behaviour powers
News release issued:
People who litter, fly-tip or ignore anti-social behaviour notices could soon face much higher fines under new plans from Wyre Forest District Council.
The council is proposing to renew a range of Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) across the district for a further three years following a public consultation. At the same time, it wants to increase the maximum Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for breaches of a PSPO or Community Protection Notice (CPN) from £100 to £500 as soon as new legislation allows.
The PSPOs cover dog control measures across the district and alcohol control orders in parts of Bewdley, Kidderminster and Stourport-on-Severn. Consultation results showed strong support for extending the existing orders. More than 89% of respondents supported continuing powers requiring dog owners to pick up after their pets, while more than 91% supported powers to tackle anti-social drinking.
The Council is also increasing fines for littering and fly-tipping with effect from Tuesday 1 September, as a result of Government regulations that allow councils to increase fines to a maximum of £750 for littering and £5000 for fly-tipping. In Wyre Forest this will see the minimum fine for littering increase from £150 to £225 if paid within 14 days and a new sliding scale for fly-tipping offences that will depend on the severity of the incident and whether the individual has received a penalty in the past. This will see minimum fines for fly-tipping ranging from £500 to £2500 if paid within 14 days and maximum fines ranging from £1000 to £5000.
The changes come as the council continues to invest in enforcement activity. Additional enforcement officers have been recruited in recent years as part of the council's commitment to keeping neighbourhoods clean, safe and welcoming.
The increased fines are intended to act as a stronger deterrent and support efforts to tackle environmental crimes that can have a significant impact on local communities. The increase in fines for breaching public space protection orders and community protection notices follows changes introduced by the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which will allow councils to raise the maximum penalty for breaches of PSPOs and Community Protection Notices from £100 to £500. Wyre Forest District Council is seeking to implement the higher fine at the earliest possible opportunity.
Councillor Nathan Desmond, Cabinet Member for Operational Services, said:
"Residents tell us time and again that they are fed up with the irresponsible and selfish behaviour of people who litter and dump waste in our communities.
"We are determined to take a tough approach and use every power available to us. These much higher fines from 1 September send a clear warning that people who choose to break the rules could face significant financial penalties if they are caught.
"The vast majority of people dispose of their waste responsibly, and there are plenty of legal ways to do so. Household recycling centres are available, and the council offers a bulky waste collection service. If anyone uses a private waste collector, they should make sure they are properly licensed.
Councillor Marcus Hart, Leader of Wyre Forest District Council, added:
"The public consultation has shown very strong support for renewing the protection orders for dogs and anti-social drinking. By renewing these orders and increasing penalties when the legislation allows us to do so, we can continue protecting our public spaces and supporting the communities that take pride in where they live."
At its meeting on Thursday 3 September, the Overview and Scrutiny committee will consider the proposals to extend the district's existing PSPOs for a further three years from 1 October 2026. Members will also discuss increasing the maximum FPN for breaches of both PSPOs and Community Protection Notices to £500 when the relevant section of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 comes into force. Recommendations from the committee with then be considered by the Cabinet at its meeting on Wednesday 16 September.
Both meetings start and 6pm and will be webcast. They can be viewed on the council's streaming webpage.