WOMAN’S FINE FOR TIPPING COFFEE DOWN DRAIN IN RICHMOND IS DROPPED AFTER OUTCRY
Richmond Council has dropped the fine against a woman who disposed of her coffee in a drain in Richmond after a massive outcry, Teddington Town can reveal.
The story was covered by the BBC national news as well as leading the local TV news.
A spokesperson for Richmond Council said: “We have reviewed the body-worn footage of the incident.
”From this, it is clear that a contravention took place which justified the Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) being issued.
“Contrary to the suggestion in reports, the enforcement officers acted appropriately and with sympathy. They were in no way aggressive.
“FPNs clearly outline that there is an appeal process available to anyone who wishes to challenge them.
“It is likely that, had this case progressed through that route, the notice would have been rescinded.
“On this occasion, the Council has therefore decided to cancel the FPN.
“‘We remain committed to protecting Richmond’s waterways and keeping our borough’s streets clean and safe.
“ We are also reviewing our advice on the disposal of liquids in a public place and will be updating this information on our website.”
Ms Burch Yesilyurt said when she asked the officers what she was supposed to have done with her remaining coffee, she was told to pour it in a nearby bin.
She said she had been trying to act responsibly and avoid littering.
“It feels quite unfair. I think the fine is extreme. It’s not proportionate,” she added.
On Wednesday, an email sent from the council at 15:00 BST to Ms Yesilyurt, and seen by the BBC, said: “I can advise that on review the Fixed Penalty Notice has been cancelled.
“Please accept my apologies for any upset or inconvenience this has caused you,” it read.
Following the cancellation of the FPN, Ms Yesilyurt told BBC News: “I’m quite happy the council recognised the sensitivity of this situation and they’ve reconsidered.”
Ms Yesilyurt was given a £150 fine for pouring the remnants of her coffee down a drain after she was ‘chased’ by three council officers.
Ms Yesilyurt from Kew, west London, said she tipped a small amount of the drink from her reusable cup down the road gully because she didn’t want to spill it on the bus.
But moments later, she says she was ‘shocked’ to see three male enforcement officers ‘chasing’ her down the street as she stood at the bus stop near Richmond station.
The officers fined her £150 under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, reduced to £100 if she paid within 14 days.
Ms Yesilyurt said she found the encounter ‘quite intimidating’ and was left feeling ‘shaky’ on her way to work.
But Richmond-upon-Thames Council insisted its officers ‘acted professionally and objectively’ and said the punishment was issued in accordance with its policies.
Ms Yesilyurt told the BBC: ‘I noticed my bus was approaching, so I just poured the leftover bit. It wasn’t much, it was just a tiny little bit.
‘As soon as I turned around, I noticed three men, enforcement officers, chasing me, and they stopped me immediately.’
She claimed she was not aware that pouring liquid down a drain was against the law when she did so on October 10.
It is an offence under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to dispose of waste ‘in a manner likely to pollute water or land.’
Tipping liquids into street drains falls under this rule.
Ms Yesilyurt said she asked the officers if there were signs informing people of the law but they did not respond.