Exploring effective enforcement against littering, fly-tipping and dog fouling offences

Local authorities, and others, have a statutory duty to keep their relevant land clear of litter and refuse. The Government has stated that taking proportionate and effective enforcement action against littering and similar offences is a practical step that local authorities and other duty bodies can take to help them meet their statutory duties to keep relevant land clear of litter and refuse. <br/><br/>Public opinion on enforcement against littering, fly-tipping and dog fouling is divided. Some support a zero-tolerance approach coupled with strict sanctions while others argue that current enforcement practices are disproportionate. <br/><br/>The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) would like to understand more about the use and effectiveness of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) and the other available enforcement powers for tackling litter, fly-tipping, breaches of the household waste duty of care and dog fouling. This research will provide insights into the use and effectiveness of these enforcement powers and identify barriers and facilitators of effective enforcement. It will also make recommendations for areas to explore further. <br/><br/><br/>Objectives <br/>Objective 1 <br/>To describe and quantify, based on a representative sample of LAs, the use of FPNs and other enforcement powers taken against individuals found to be littering, fly-tipping, breaching the household waste duty of care, or breaching a PSPOs in the case of not cleaning up dog foul across England, Wales and Northern Ireland over the past 5 years. <br/><br/>Objective 2 <br/>To assess the impact and effectiveness of FPNs and the other enforcement options mentioned in objective 1 in reducing littering, fly-tipping, breaching the household wate duty of care and dog fouling, broken down across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. <br/><br/>Objective 3 <br/>To set out the barriers that hinder the use and effectiveness of the current enforcement regime. <br/><br/><br/>Approach and Methodology <br/>Defra requires a mixed-methods approach employing desk-based research, an online survey, and qualitative interviews or focus groups. Bidders are encouraged however to consider the appropriateness of these methods and, if felt necessary, propose alternative approaches which are felt to provide more robust, timely or cost-effective evidence. <br/><br/><br/>Deliverables <br/>The final product is expected to be a high quality, well written report (following feedback on a draft report) of publishable quality that is accessible to non-experts. Additional information: Expected Timeline: <br/>ITT to be published by 25 November 2022<br/>Proposals due by 23 December 2022<br/>Project start by 9 January 2023 <br/>Full report by end April 2023