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<p>Defra issued a call for evidence in 2015 prior to introducing Fixed Penalty Notices
(FPNs) for those who have committed a fly-tipping offence. The responses to our call
for evidence and further analysis when finalising the policy led to the maximum value
of the FPN being set at £400.</p><p> </p><p>In January 2019 we gave local authorities
the power to issue a FPN to householders who fail in their duty of care. When consulting
on this FPN, almost three-quarters of respondents felt that the proposed value (£200
default, maximum value of £400) was correct.</p><p> </p><p>With regards to criminal
prosecution for more serious fly-tipping offences, the punishment could be a fine
of up to £50,000 or up to 12 months imprisonment or both when tried in a magistrates’
court. The offence can attract an unlimited fine or up to five years imprisonment
or both if convicted in a Crown Court.</p><p> </p><p>We committed in our manifesto
to increase penalties for fly-tipping and will continue to work with magistrates,
the Sentencing Council and the Judicial Office to ensure magistrates are aware of
the prevalence and the significance of fly-tipping and its impact on local communities,
with a view to securing tougher penalties.</p><p> </p><p>The latest 2018/19 fly-tipping
prosecution outcome figures showed that the value of total fines increased by 29%
to £1,090,000 compared with 2017/18.</p>
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