Published: 09 March 2023
From: Environment
A resident has been fined £153 plus costs after pleading guilty to littering and failing to supply details to Community Wardens.
Everton Miller, of Broadfield, Crawley, pleaded guilty by post to two offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The first offence was for littering, where he dropped chewing gum on the floor in the town centre and the second was for failing to give his name and address to a Community Warden, when legally required to do so.
Mr Miller was approached in July 2022 on The Broadway, Crawley, by a Community Warden who had witnessed Mr Miller throwing chewing gum on to the floor. The warden attempted to give Mr Miller a fixed penalty notice of £80 for littering. However, when approached by the warden, Mr Miller refused to identify himself when legally required to do so.
The Community Warden was wearing a body worn video camera and, from the footage, the warden could identify what company the gentleman worked for. The Community Wardens then referred the case over to the council’s Corporate Fraud Team in the hope that they would be able to identify the gentleman and obtain an address for him.
The investigator contacted Mr Miller’s employer and showed a photo of him to his employers. They confirmed that Mr Miller worked for them and provided his full name and address. Mr Miller did not respond to the investigator when contacted by post or on several home visits.
A prosecution case was put together and Mr Miller was prosecuted for two offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for littering and failing to identify. The case was heard at Crawley Magistrates’ Court where Mr Miller pleaded guilty by post and was ordered to pay a fine of £153, a victim surcharge of £61 and costs of £150.
We have a zero-tolerance approach to littering and know it is of great concern to those that live and work in Crawley. It costs taxpayers money, looks terrible and causes health risks. The Corporate Fraud Team works closely with other teams in the council and this case is another demonstration of how working together with the Community Wardens brings a high rate of success.
Councillor Gurinder Jhans
Cabinet member for Environmental Services and Sustainability
Crawley Borough Council
The council’s Corporate Fraud Team is committed to investigating all aspects of fraud and criminal activity in Crawley, including running data-matching exercises to try and find any fraud. The team can be contacted for free and in confidence by emailing investigations@crawley.gov.uk.
The Community Wardens patrol the whole town and will issue Fixed Penalty Notices to anyone seen dropping litter. Visit our Community Wardens page for more information.
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