Cambridge Labour Party is calling on the council to take proper measures to enforce the law against those having no consideration for their neighbours and their community.

Just three officers are employed across the entire city to enforce rules against litter dropping, dog-fouling, cigarettes ends, fly-tipping, and other offences.

The council has the power to issue fines and clearance notices against individuals or businesses not clearing up after themselves. Yet few offenders are fined.

With dog fouling, the City Council forgot to give itself the correct legal powers. In the past decade, only one fine was issued for the offence.

Mike Sargeant, is very concerned: “We all know that litter, cigarette ends and gum blight our beautiful city. We know that education and opportunities to do the right thing are needed, but there has to be a stick as well as a carrot.

Presently, people can do as they like, knowing they will never be caught or punished. Realistically, three people cannot be expected to cover a city like Cambridge effectively.

Nationally it is costing £1 billion a year to remove litter, enough for 30,000 nurses. 

We need a Labour council taking enforcement seriously, sending a message that offenders won’t be able to get away with fouling our streets.”