Across the country, councils are using enforcement companies to issue fines when people drop litter or fly-tip. However, in some instances people have complained about how these cases are handled, for example a woman in Bath who was charged when she fed a corner of her sausage roll to a bird.
When someone is accused of littering by one of these companies, they are not legally obliged to hand over their details, but many people do not realise this and do not have it explained to them, with some feeling that some companies overplay their legal powers or use threats of court action to intimidate people.
We want to hear from people about their experiences of local environmental enforcement. If a company like this operates in your area, tell us how it affects local residents. We are also keen to hear from those who work for these companies about what it is like.