Statistics have been released by the Local Authority of ‘Fixed Penalty Notices’ that have been issued over an eight month period to ‘litterbugs’ - with smokers seemingly the ones hit the hardest in the pocket across Pembrokeshire.

At the end of last summer, Pembrokeshire County Council selected WISE (Waste Investigations Support & Enforcement) as the company to tackle a range of environmental crimes that have a negative impact on the communities in which people live, work and visit.

Dog beach ban Tenby
Despite being known to many as ‘dog friendly Pembrokeshire’ - the Local Authority still likes to restrict pet pooches from many of the the county’s beaches between May 1 and September 30 each year. (Observer pic)

In that time (up until April 24 of this year) 1,983 Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued across the county for various offences; with 26 of those FPN’s cancelled; and a further 284 ‘written off’.

Judging by the fact that 600 fines were issued within the first month of the enforcement officers taking up duties at the end of August 2023, they clearly didn’t appear to be out and about carrying out patrols much over the winter period with a total of 1,983 Fixed Penalty Notices issued across the county for various offences, up until April 24 of this year.

26 of those FPN’s were cancelled; and a further 284 ‘written off’.

Some of those caught and fined for littering included - 6 for dropping chewing gum; 3 for discarding food; and 4 others for food wrappers. One not so lucky member of the public was hit with a fine after throwing away a scratch card!

Staff from the previous enforcement company ‘District Enforcement’ who worked pre-Covd in partnership with Pembrokeshire Council, were labelled the ‘fag police’ and criticised by some across communities for showing a tendency to hang around nearby town centre pubs and restaurants, to catch out those standing outside drinking establiements, ditching their fag butts.

Dog fouling sign
Only 19 were caught out for letting their dogs foul in public (Observer pic)

And it’s the smokers that have been fined the most by the current set-up, with a whopping 1,194 fined for dropping cigarette ends; and another 520 handed FPN’s for discarding rolled-up cigarettes. 5 cigar puffers were also fined.

Only 19 were caught out for letting their dogs foul in public; but 142 beach-goers taking their pet pooches for walk on the sand, were hit with fines for breaching the dog ban byelaws on some of Pembrokeshire’s beaches; and a further 3 fined for not having their dogs on a lead in an area encompassing the byelaw.

Members of the public are encouraged to email: [email protected] to highlight any areas of particular concern.