Crime and safety
Fixed penalty notices (FPNs)
Fixed penalty notices cover a wide range of environmental and anti-social behaviour offences. They are designed to deal with offences that takes up a disproportionate amount of time and money in prosecuting through the courts compared with the fines imposed.
They can be issued to any person aged 18 years or over.
Pay your fixed penalty notice
You’ll need to give your name, address and notice number. This is found on your fixed penalty notice letter and starts with reference WK/.
Paying your fixed penalty notice in full releases you from the offence and the need to go to court. You have 14 days to pay the penalty.
Among the offences for which a FPN can be issued are :
- Littering
- Fly-tipping
- Duty of care offences
- Fly-posting
- Dog fouling
How much is a fixed penalty notice?
| Offence | FPN if paid within 14 days |
|---|---|
| Litter | £150 |
| Fly-tipping | £400 |
| Nuisance parking - selling or repairing vehicles on the street | £100 |
| Non-compliance with a dog control Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) - failing to pick up dog fouling, failing to put dog on lead when asked to by authorised officer, exercising more than 4 dogs at any one time | £100 |
| Graffiti and fly-posting | £75 |
| Failure to comply with a community protection notice (CPN) | £100 |
| Failure to produce waste transfer notes | £300 |
| Failure to produce waste carriers licence | £300 |
| Failure to comply with Household Duty of Care requirements | £400 |
| Failure to comply with a notice requiring the correct disposal of waste relating to trade or commercial waste receptacles | £100 |
Can I appeal a FPN?
You cannot appeal against a fixed penalty notice. If you choose not to pay the FPN, you are choosing for your case to be heard in court. If you are found guilty, you could face a larger fine and receive a criminal record.
You must pay the FPN penalty within the time given. We do not issue reminders and will not accept late payments. We do not accept payment of an FPN in instalments – you must pay the FPN in full.
More information
- Essex Police – in an emergency always dial 999
- Crimestoppers – give information anonymously
- Victim support – help after crime