CCTV cameras installed at littering hotspots in Brighton and Hove

Litterbugs on the seafront could now be caught on camera, after the council installed CCTV at locations along the beach.
Cameras have been installed at Hove LawnsCameras have been installed at Hove Lawns
Cameras have been installed at Hove Lawns

Cameras have been installed at Hove Lawns and the central beach near Shelter Hall in a bid to deter people from leaving their rubbish in these busy areas.

Town Hall bosses said the CCTV will also allow their environmental enforcement team to hand out fines to those who do not bin their rubbish properly or take it home.

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CCTV cameras deployed at the city’s fly-tipping hotspots last October have been hugely successful – catching almost 200 people dumping rubbish where they should not.

Enforcement officers already patrols the lawns and the whole seafront on foot, however the council says it is extremely difficult to catch people leaving their rubbish behind.

If litterbugs see an officer approaching, they simply wait until the officer leaves, according to the council.

The new cameras will allow enforcement officers to be quickly directed to those seen dumping their litter as the cameras will be monitored from the council’s CCTV control room.

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The cameras are being placed on street lighting columns to monitor the lawns and the central beach and will not, the council has confirmed, face or monitor anything else including housing, hotels, shops, bars or cafes.

Council leader Phélim Mac Cafferty, whose Brunswick & Adelaide ward covers the lawns, said: “We’re having to install these cameras due to the amount of rubbish people are leaving on Hove Lawns and the central seafront area.

“Our Streets team collected 100 tonnes of rubbish from the seafront in just 17 days recently, and much of it was from these two areas.

“The cameras will help act as deterrents, so people bin their rubbish responsibly or take it home.

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“If they don’t then these cameras give us a far greater chance of catching people and fining them, which can be as high as £2,500.

“Everyone knows not to leave litter behind and that it’s a criminal offence, so we must use whatever means necessary to stop these thoughtless people who don’t care what state they leave our beautiful beach and lawns in.”

Signage will be placed on each CCTV column, stating the purpose, the risk of a fine and the clear messaging of ‘Bin your litter or take it home’.

The environmental enforcement hotline number and the Data Protection Team’s contact details will also feature on the signage.