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A woman from Huddersfield was hit with a £150 littering fine
A Huddersfield woman claims she now feels anxious about venturing out in Manchester for fear of ‘breaching a law she’s never heard of’ after receiving a £150 penalty in Piccadilly Gardens.
Sam Ekins, 23, and her partner were dining outside McDonald’s on Monday (March 9) when enforcement officers confronted them. The couple had been in the city marking her birthday. The pair stated they were completely unaware they might be contravening regulations when they chose to share a small morsel of food with a bird in the street.
“It was our first time out and we don’t know the area,” she told the Manchester Evening News. “We were sitting eating, when a pigeon came up to us so we gave it some of the food we were eating. I thought it was just a normal thing to do.” Sam explained that two enforcement officers approached them moments later and enquired whether they knew that dropping food on the ground constituted an offence.
“I tried to explain that we were new to the area. There were no signs around, no warning, no anything to indicate that we weren’t supposed to feed the birds,” she said. Sam initially believed the officer intended to issue them with a caution. However, she was subsequently asked for identification and informed she would receive an immediate penalty.
The charge, she claims, amounted to £150 for “discarding food”. “As there were two of us, he said he would let us off with just the one fine,” she said. The couple have subsequently launched a GoFundMe page to assist with covering the penalty, whilst they seek to challenge it. Sam revealed that the pair are presently surviving on a single working wage, whilst her partner receives disability benefits.
“We are only really living on one working income at the minute and because we recently moved, we’re struggling,” she said. “My partner cant work because of their disability and are relying on my income and any sort of benefit we can get to help with their disability but that’s supposed to go on things like mobility aid and medications.”
She added the incident has left her feeling apprehensive about returning to the city centre. She continued: “I’m scared to go out in Manchester now because I feel like I’m going to break a law that I don’t even know about.”
According to Manchester City Council, fixed-penalty notices can be handed out for violations such as littering, dog-fouling and graffiti. Failing to settle the notice within the designated period may lead to the matter being referred to court and a more substantial fine could be levied.
A Manchester City Council spokesperson stated: “The throwing of rubbish, including items of food, is classed as littering and where appropriate, enforcement officers will issue a Fixed Penalty Notice if an offence is observed. Signage has also been installed in some areas warning against dropping food for the purposes of feeding pigeons or other birds.
“A Fixed Penalty Notice gives someone the option to deal with the alleged offence by paying the set fine, therefore avoiding prosecution through the courts and potentially, a much higher fine. Since receiving the Fixed Penalty Notice, Ms. Ekins has contacted the Customer Services team and we can confirm that the matter has been placed on hold, so her case and circumstances can be fully considered.
“Littering of this type attracts vermin and can harm the amenity of Manchester’s public open spaces. Residents and visitors to the city have a shared responsibility in supporting our efforts to make the city cleaner and greener.”
Sam expressed her view that prominent signage should be erected to inform the public about the regulations and the penalties that could result from breaching them.
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