A CAMPAIGNER calling for cleaner streets in Dorchester has expressed his disappointment over the lack of public notices issued by police for littering.

Bob Kerr, from the Dorchester Stop the Drop anti-litter campaign, spoke after Dorset Police revealed only six notices had been issued for the offence since January last year.

Dorset Police told the Echo only four public notices for disorder were issued for littering in 2014, whilst a further two had only been given this year, as of August 26.

Describing the figures as ‘pathetic’, Bob Kerr said: “People do understand nothing happens if you drop litter here. That’s the unfortunate thing. There’s no action taken.

“God knows where these fixed penalty notices were issued. That would be interesting to know.”

The Echo reported last month that the Dorset Waste Partnership didn’t issue a single fixed penalty notice in Dorchester last year, and at the time of publication had failed to do so this year.

Bob said he would like to see a ‘zero tolerance’ approach adopted by police.

Describing the extent of litter in Dorchester, he said: “We don’t pay attention. We’ve become to blasé to the point where people don’t even notice the litter they’re walking through.”

Littering became a criminal offence under the Environmental Protection Act in 1990. This act was updated and amended by the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act in 2005, which broadened the term ‘litter’ to include smoking related items and chewing gum.

This act also stated that a principal litter authority could specify the amount of a fixed penalty to be applied for a littering offence. When not specified, the amount would be set at £75.

James Rowe, Dorchester Deputy Neighbourhood Inspector, said PCSOs ‘in most instances’ would speak to someone if they were caught littering.

He said: “The Safer Neighbourhood Teams take their priorities from the communities as well as dealing with Force priorities connected with risk and harm.

“Litter has not currently been set as a priority by the local communities but the most common issues raised with SNTs include anti-social behaviour and speeding through local villages and we work closely with communities and partners to resolve these types of concerns and complaints.

“However, in most instances when PCSOs witness somebody littering, they approach that person and explain that it is an offence and asked them to put the litter in a bin and people normally oblige.”