Man Fined £833 After Dropping Cigarette Butt and Failing to Pay Initial Penalty

Bromley Council emphasizes the case as part of a broader crackdown on littering, with warnings of higher fines for unpaid penalties.

Carl Smith, 31, was issued a £100 fixed penalty notice in May for dropping a cigarette butt in Bromley's Market Square but refused to pay.
After pleading guilty in Bromley Magistrates’ Court, Smith was ordered to pay £833, including a £293 fine, £117 surcharge, and £423 in costs.
Smith argued that the cigarette was dropped into a drain and not on the pavement, disputing the enforcement officer’s actions and evidence.
Bromley Council has prosecuted 12 individuals for littering since September, collecting over £6,000 in fines as part of its anti-littering initiative.
The council reiterated its commitment to keeping streets clean with seven-day street-cleaning teams and warned of severe consequences for littering violations.