A couple of days ago it was announced that new legislation is to be introduced to deal with the problem of littering in the UK. We all know that littering is a serious problem in our country and I’m sure we’re all tired of seeing drinks cans, fast food wrappers and plastic bottles blowing around our high streets and country lanes.

The response of the Government is to increase financial penalties for littering convictions and to encourage citizens to report transgressors to police officers. The first part is good since people tend to respond to attacks on the pocket but the second part maybe not so.

It is always a little disconcerting when the Government urges us to spy on our fellow citizens and report them to the authorities. It seems to indicate that there are insufficient numbers of law enforcement officers, namely police, to deal with the problem and, following the constant cuts in police forces up and down the country, this is indeed the case.

By all means encourage the reporting of waste-disposal in public areas (commonly known as fly-tipping) to the authorities but asking the public to report individuals for dropping litter on the high street is to ask for trouble. Firstly, is it not risky to attempt to apprehend or remonstrate with a stranger after he has, for example, thrown his cigarette pack or beer can on the pavement? Secondly, is this policy not likely to encourage busy-bodies to report minor infringements, for example the old lady who inadvertently lets slip a sweet paper or tissue from her handbag as she is walking down the street?

Yes, we do have a problem with littering and, yes, most of us are sick and tired of seeing rubbish blowing around our high streets. The problem has to be properly addressed but, whilst increasing the severity of the punishment is a good idea (how about enforced street litter collection by serious offenders? No good, breach of Human Rights and Health and Safety!) that alone will not solve the problem.

What is also required is education; education in the classroom so that kids can be taught what their parents should have taught them in the first place and education provided by a public awareness campaign on television and large billboard notices for those who still don’t get it. Add to that a return of police officers on the beat and we have a good chance of solving the problem.