The parents of a 12-year-old girl threatened with court action for dropping a sandwich wrapper and failing to pick it up say the case is “beyond a joke.”
The schoolgirl was listed to appear before magistrates at Pontefract last week to face a charge of littering in Knottingley after her £45 fine was not paid.
Council chiefs at Wakefield say the court date was wrongly listed and say youngster will have to do litter picking as payback instead.
The girl’s parents say their daughter denied dropping the rubbish on the morning of January 17 and said she told the police community support officer she would pick the litter up.
Her father told the YEP: “Anyone would think she had robbed a bank with all the court dates we have had and the way they are carrying on about it.”
He added: “It’s beyond a joke.”
A 12-year-old boy from Wakefield was also handed a £45 fine and later listed to appear before magistrates amid claims he dropped rubbish in Lofthouse on March 5.
Sgt Dan Tillet of Pontefract and Knottingley NPT, said: “Littering is an anti social behaviour issue which has been raised with us in that part of Knottingley as a concern for residents, and PCSO’s are working with their colleagues in Wakefield Council to address it.
“In this instance the girl in question was witnessed dropping litter by a PCSO. The officer waited before acting to see if the girl would turn and pick up her litter.
“This did not happen and the officer went to speak to the indvidual after she had walked a number of steps away.
“The officer identifed herself and issued the girl with a Fixed Penalty Notice but explained she would not have to pay this if she attended an organised litter pick by way of reparation.”
Glynn Humphries, WAkefield Council’s Service Director for Cleaner and Greener, said: “Wakefield Council will take action against anyone who drops litter within our district.
“It is unacceptable behaviour which impacts on our communities and incurs significant costs for Wakefield Council to remove on a daily basis.”
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