LITTER louts, fly-tippers and graffiti artists will find it harder to escape justice.
The Cabinet approved a massive increase in the number of workers able to impose fines of up to £300 for environmental crimes.
Currently only 64 staff from the council’s Environmental Services can issue fixed penalty notices for littering, fly-tipping, dog fouling, graffiti and fly-posting.
But the Cabinet has now increased the number of staff able to impose the fines by more than 300.
This includes 205 police officers, 61 people from Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing, nine council licensing staff, 16 people from Leisure Services and 35 parking wardens.
Clr Molly Walton, Cabinet member responsible for the environment, believes residents will welcome the move to reduce littering and other environmental offences.
The Crosland Moor and Netherton Labour woman said: “I think most of us as councillors get more complaints about this than anything else. It really offends people.”
The Cabinet unanimously supported the proposal.
The relevant staff will now be trained to issue fines and the new policy will come into force in April.
Clr Walton will report back to Cabinet on how the new policy is working after six months.
