Disabled grandmother fined £150 in Romford for not littering.

A disabled pensioner shopping in Romford Market with her granddaughter was issued with a fine for littering when she did not drop a thing. Not only was she issued the fine, but the Enforcement officer stated the reason why she was being fined was due to the fact that she had not stopped her daughter from throwing the cigarette butts down the drain.

The shocking incident came last week when Marian 69, who has hearing difficulties, was with her granddaughter Quinn outside of B&M when they stopped for a cigarette. When both ladies finished their cigarette, Marian handed her butt end to Quinn who walked over to a nearby drain and placed both ends in the drain.

Quinn told the Havering Daily: “The Enforcement Officer put her camera on and said she had seen me place my cigarette down the drain. I didn’t realise that was littering, but took the fine. However, she then walked over to my nan and handed her a fine too, telling her one was your cigarette butt and you didn’t stop your granddaughter from littering.”

Both ladies were visibly shocked and couldn’t believe what had happened.

Quinn continued: “It has made us both quite scared now of what we do and has put us off shopping in Romford. My nan was very upset and angry. It’s lucky I was there as she would not have been able to hear her otherwise and would not have understood what was going on.

“I accepted the fine, but my nan was just standing there and now she has been issued with a £150 fine for not littering.

“This really is unfair and I do believe they are preying on women in particular as they are an easier target.”

A spokesperson for Havering Council told the Havering Daily:

“We aren’t made aware of individual cases as all enquiries go to National Enforcement Solutions who are able to review officers’ body-worn camera footage at the time of the alleged offence.

“Unfortunately, disposing of cigarette butts down a drain is still considered to be littering. This behaviour can block drains and be harmful to waterways and wildlife.

“Cigarette butt litter can also pose a hazard to animals and marine life when they mistake filters for food.”

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