Page five of yesterday's Daily Mail
Rhuthun/Ruthin features in the Daily Mail... again, for all the wrong reasons.This is the second time in sixth months. Now, the Daily Mail newspaper's taken up the story of the litter fixed penalty, in yesterday's newspaper proper and twice on its online edition. In the earlier online article, it refers to Rhuthun/Ruthin as a 'village'. This, no doubt, is how London sees us.
The first of two online articles refers to Rhuthun as a 'village'
Here's some selected comments as left onto the Daily Mail online articles. There's more on the Mail website. As at today's date and time, there were 172 comments and 444 'shares'. This compares to 723 comments when the Mail reported the Belfield issue. Unlike in the 'village' of Rhuthun itself, reaction by Mail readers was more balanced between those against and those in favour. Judging by the number of green and red arrows, there was a majority who were against what the Mail headline calls the "litter Stasi" but there were plenty who basically felt there had been an infringement.
It is important to crack down on littering and it has been overlooked in the past and yes, it is a way for councils to make money, when the alternative is simply to refuse receipts and put any other litter in a bin.
Where are these Stasi? We need them round our way [High Wycombe] [also “me too” comments from Luton, Hereford, Perth]
Give somebody a boring job wandering around with a book of tickets and soon as something hits the ground whey hey bingo! got summat to do at last.
Just think, if no one dropped litter, then we wouldn't need litter inspectors!
Would it be that hard for them to ask her to pick it up? A sledgehammer to crack a nut in my opinion.
Strangely enough, her age has a lot to do with it… most people of [her] age were taught by their parents not to drop litter [in response to a comment, “What’s her age got to do with it?”]
If they had a pound every time someone said they hadn't done it. I also wonder about all these people calling other people jobsworths. If it had been a youngster dropping litter there would be no sympathy.
Anyone else get sick of these ridiculous fines? I'm surprised we aren't fined for breathing yet.
So you say "vote them out" and turn the country into a litter-ridden island? [In response to a comment recommending the public vote out councillors who agree with fixed penalties]
This up-holder of justice obviously thought better of tackling some hooded thug dropping his chip papers or half-eaten burger on the road. Let's just deal with that easier looking pensioner.
The UK litter problem has been disgusting for many years… the average UK citizen today is just too cowardly, spineless and apathetic to do anything except moan about things when they are safely back home... because it's always the responsibility of someone else—the council, the cops, the schools, the parents etc.
I wonder if the Daily Mail would have featured this story if the lady had run the local Labour Club.
A friend dropped his cigarette butt on the ground and was fined £60 but he deliberately throws all his litter about now, saying he's just getting his money's worth.
She dropped the litter, she did so 'deliberately' according to the warden (who has only her job) and so she deserves the fine…unless those responsible are held to account then it will get worse and worse. If others want to waste their money helping this litter lout, that is up to them.
I bet if she'd dropped a tenner, the jobsworth would have pocketed it.
To be guilty of a criminal offence the prosecution has to prove that the accused had the intent to commit a crime. Oh, I forgot, this wasn't a criminal offence—it's a civil offence, so the council can act as witness, jury and judge.
Why aren't these gestapo types policing the areas at night, when the kebab and pizza brigade come out in force. Oh dear I forgot a little old dear wouldn't threaten you or indeed assault you, so an easy target…
She dropped litter. He did his job. End.
Good! The country is like a dustbin because of people like this lazy woman.
I was raised in the 1950s, and am still offended by the casual way some people deliberately discard rubbish; the wrapping from cigarette packets used to be a favourite bugbear, but nowadays it's mostly fast food wrappers.
At what age do you get away with these offences? She was caught on video dropping litter and uses the "now you have caught me I will pick it up" defence. Do shoplifters get the opportunity to give their loot back?
People complain about litter, people do something about it. People still complain.
I'll wait to see the video footage before I make my mind up. Just because she's a little old lady doesn't mean she's telling the truth.
We either solve the litter problem or we don't—it's as simple as that.
Only in Britain could this happen! Those councils should be charged with extortion! [stated lives in Beverley Hills]
Something needs to be done to discourage people carelessly dropping litter, and only harshness will work because people are too selfish and 'busy' to respond to reason.
Every time I read the Daily Mail, there are these horror stories about councils and their power hungry employees. Do you people not have any control over them?
Rules are rules or so the smug Tory supporting Daily Mail readers keep telling the rest of us. So pay up!
It is high time supermarkets and shops stopped this nonsense with receipts for everything. Total waste of paper and resources.
The sensible thing for the warden to do would be to pick up the litter and return it to the lady. She should have received a polite verbal warning. I'm sure this would earn a lot more respect for the warden and the job she is doing.
How on earth are we ever going to clean up our streets if litter wardens are vilified as "Stasi"? She dropped litter and was issued with a fine. Pay up and stop moaning.
You will be fined for walking on the pavement next as it transfers dirt from your shoes.
The whip round… was the wrong thing to do as she is effectively admitting her guilt by paying the fine. She should have challenged it all the way.
They should follow schoolchildren on their way home from school, they leave a trail of sweet packets and soft drinks bottles for miles. One child when asked why he thought it OK to drop litter replied because "people are employed to clear the streets".
I hate this country, and what it has become [a reference to litter louts or the enforcers?]
Why is this a story? Fined for littering. End off.
Same old thing: give someone a uniform and they go mad with power.
Why can these people not see the bigger picture? London—great place rich tourists, yep fine people for dropping litter. Ruthin—poor place, poor people please don't take the pee and rub their noses in it.
I thought that littering was intentional. If it accidentally gets blown from your hand, it's not littering.
A litterbug is a litterbug. She accidentally dropped it, hah! It's not always young hooligans who make our towns look like litter heaps.
Seems strange that she thinks she dropped it as she was putting her purse away. If you are like me, you put your purse away in your bag after you have paid for your shopping but before you leave the shop.
Many brave men and women were prepared to give up their whole existence for this country and yet many others can't even make the effort to put something in a bin or keep hold of it until they can. They have no respect for this country.