Litter wardens collect 35 for every fine they hand out

Wardens in one city are earning their employer £35 for every fine they dole out to those they see dropping litter.

The private company is paid on a commission-only basis by the council  -  and there is no limit to what it can earn.

Since the scheme was introduced last year, two wardens have raked in tens of thousands of pounds for the firm, called Xfor.

Litter Wardens: Paid on commission

Critics last night described it as ' outrageous' and said it encouraged them to collar members of the public 'on the flimsiest evidence'.

Details of the scheme, which has been pioneered by Tory-run Peterborough City Council, emerged after the authority admitted handing out littering fines to 1,772 pedestrians last year, bringing a total of £62,020 in commission.

In addition, a further 119 drivers were posted penalty notices using information from the vehicle registration, adding another £4,165.

Police and community support officers can issue the tickets but the vast majority are understood to have been handed out by two environmental wardens  -  meaning they could have earned their employer more than £30,000 each. However, they will have been paid a flat rate of £300 a week.

Even when the £75 on-the- spot fixed penalty notice is reduced to £50 when paid within 21 days, the £35 commission remains the same.

It was not clear last night whether any other local authorities operate similar schemes but other councils are likely to adopt it.

Officials admit that if everyone in Peterborough stopped dropping litter, the company would not be paid because there would be no commissions from any tickets.

But at the moment, it is proving lucrative. Based on last year's figures, the potential profit will have been more than £28,000, even if every fine was paid within 21 days.

The firm is already looking to recruit two more environmental wardens. Christine Melsom, of the council tax pressure group Is It Fair?, said: 'Local authorities are already hitting people year after year with above-inflation council tax increases. Now they are giving litter wardens a licence to print money.

'It is a disgraceful way to treat the public at a time when the cost of living is soaring. People should be encouraged not to litter but this is over the top. The scheme encourages wardens to fine people on the flimsiest evidence.'

Taxpayers' Alliance campaign director Mark Wallace said: 'This is outrageous and completely unjust. These companies have no incentive to stop people littering  -  indeed if they stopped people doing it their pay would dry up.

'Instead the wardens just continue to loiter round trying to sting people for fines to make a quick buck. That's no way to run a justice system.'

Councils were given the power to issue fixed-penalty notices under the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005.

The fines can be issued by wardens, PCSOs and police officers to anyone seen dropping litter and leaving the scene without picking it up. Anyone who refuses to pay can be taken to court and given a criminal record as well as a fine of up to £400 plus costs.

The councillor responsible for the environment in Peterborough, Graham Murphy, said: 'People need to realise there is nowhere they can hide. We'll catch up with them and make them pay.

'I think there is a noticeable difference in the city. It is a cleaner place and a lot tidier than it has been for a long time.'

Labour group leader Nazim Khan said, however: 'I have concerns about it. The wardens will be getting people left, right and centre. I don't support them making a living at other people's expense.'