Bid to fine litterbugs via CCTV

6:43pm Sunday 13th April 2008

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COUNCILS in Bournemouth and Poole will monitor closely the results of a camera-based crackdown on four-wheeled litter louts.

Local authorities in London will try out a government scheme this summer in which CCTV footage and images from mobile phones could be used to prosecute drivers who throw rubbish from their cars.

The government is seeking to close a legal loophole that allows drivers to escape prosecution by labelling their passengers as litter bugs. A change to the law will allow councils to prosecute the registered keeper of the vehicle.

Cllr Bob Lawton, Bournemouth council's cabinet member for the environment and transport, says he will "watch with interest" the London-based pilot scheme.

"The crux of the matter is having CCTV cameras everywhere. We don't have those facilities at the moment. Most of our CCTV is used to keep track of the town centre," said Cllr Lawton.

The transport chief said that current facilities for monitoring traffic extended only as far as speed cameras. New super wardens were on top of town centre rubbish, said Cllr Lawton, adding that the Bournemouth's rating on litter was good.

Cllr Don Collier, Poole council's portfolio holder for the environment, said the majority of motorists were responsible with their rubbish.

Loads slipping from trailers, or carried without a tarpaulin, were a greater source of road-based rubbish than deliberate littering, said Poole's environment chief.

Developments in London would be monitored, added Cllr Collier, who hinted that the government's previous initiatives had left him sceptical.

"This government's law often doesn't match what's on the tin, and very often has unintended consequences," said Cllr Collier.