SHOPPERS and businesses in Poole and Bournemouth town centres have reported to have seen a visible increase in officers fining people £150 for dropping litter and cigarette butts. 

Residents have taken to Facebook to warn people of their return, amassing widespread interest with businesses also reporting customers having been fined. 

Staff member at Fone World, Lauren Crossley, 30, said: "Especially in town, I've seen it myself. I think give people a chance, ask us, be polite about it and then be like 'look you need to pick it up, otherwise I do have to fine you'. 

"It's the kindness and education of it, and people might realise why its not good."

BCP Council began on-the-spot fines in March 2023 contracting Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement to dish out fixed penalty notices. 

While it has been noticed, businesses across BCP have noted the Council's increase with staff at Repair Hub on Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, saying his brother had a customer fined at his store in Poole on April 9. 

Fone World staff member Angel Gorrod, 52, said: "I've been fined twice in the last year. One was up by Buzz Bingo and he came out of the shop and went 'I saw you drop that', which was another £70.

"It's an insane amount of money especially nowadays where you have to work two jobs and everything else to make ends meet."

Both Angel and Lauren suggested that there are not enough bins in town with cigarette butts also posing a risk to fires. 

Lauren claimed she has called the fire service twice in response to cigarette bin fires outside Vodafone and Vision Express. 

She said: "There's no proper places to stuff out [cigarettes] so it might still be hot and you can't put it in the bin. 

"There's only one clean up a day but that's not enough, when it's summer it get fills up by eleven."

BCP Council fixed penalty notice (FPN) fines for littering are £75 if paid within 14 days and £150 within 28 days, while flytipping FPNs are £200 if paid within 14 days and £400 if paid within 28 days.