In the United Kingdom, 1.1 million incidents of fly-tipping were reported last year alone. Labour has proposed a new strategy to combat this antisocial behaviour by introducing Fixed Penalty Cleaning Notices that would require offenders to clean up their own trash and graffiti.
Steve Reed, the shadow justice secretary, stated that this “fresh thinking” would benefit the entire community and that “if you make the mess, you’ll clean it up.” The current penalties for fly-tipping include a maximum of five years in prison and an unlimited fine, as well as the seizure and forfeiture of vehicles used by fly-tippers.
In addition to mandating parenting classes for parents of juvenile offenders, Labour intends to issue Parenting Orders to those who do not take their parental responsibilities seriously. Officers would be able to issue these orders, which are currently issued only by courts.
The party proposes Community and Victim Payback Boards to ensure that punishments meet the needs of the local community, as well as a trauma-informed criminal justice system that will be the first in the world to utilise scientific research on trauma. Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, has also pledged to recruit 13,000 additional neighbourhood police officers, one for each community.
Robert Jenrick, minister of the Home Office, has stated that Labour’s plans for policing are not credible. However, Yvette Cooper defended Labour’s record on combating crime, stating, “It was right then, it is right now, it is what we did then, and we will do it again.”
Labour has proposed a variety of measures to combat antisocial behaviour such as fly-tipping, including the implementation of Fixed Penalty Cleaning Notices and compulsory parenting classes. Steve Reed, shadow justice secretary, stated that this “fresh thinking” would benefit the entire community, while Yvette Cooper, shadow home secretary, defended the party’s record on combating crime. Robert Jenrick, minister of the Home Office, stated that Labour’s plans were not credible, but Labour has stated that it will continue to be tough on crime and on the causes of crime.
