Just how bad things are going in the UK

**cas** · April 22nd, 2007, 08:14 PM

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...0&in_a_source=

Summary of above article

"A council is paying plain-clothes snoopers £30,000 a year to track down homeowners who put their rubbish out at the wrong time of the week or in the wrong place.
The 'envirocrime' officers are employed to enforce environmental regulations and have the power to fine residents who 'offend'.

Ealing Council in West London is spending nearly £150,000 on recruiting and employing four new enforcement patrollers to add to its 23-strong team that already monitors 'waste disposal' regulations.

The same council attracted controversy last month when it was revealed it had drawn up plans to use hidden CCTV to catch fly-tippers.

Of more than a dozen councils levying fines since the introduction of legislation a year ago enabling local authorities to pursue residents, Ealing charges what it calls 'envirocriminals' the most, with a £110 penalty notice. "