Litter conviction rate less than 50%

LESS than half of litter prosecutions taken in the first six months of last year ended in conviction, new figures have revealed.

Of the 1,044 prosecutions taken, only 393 resulted in conviction, according to the Department of the Environment. The latest figures also show just 5,730 of the 11,558 on-the-spot fines were actually paid.

The penalty for each fine is €125 and, if the case goes to court, a maximum fine of €1,904 can be imposed.