Panorama: Season 2017, Episode 20

2017 - 20: Inside the Litter Police

Panorama goes undercover inside Britain's rapidly expanding litter police and reveals the methods behind the soaring litter fines - over 140,000 were handed out last year. We hear from people who have been stung with hefty fines for offences like pouring coffee down the drain, dropping tiny pieces of orange peel and even leaving out their weekly rubbish. Our undercover reporter goes inside the leading private enforcement company - with over 50 council contracts - to capture the litter police in action and unearths the secret bonus system used to reward wardens for the number of tickets they issue. Inside the Litter Police asks whether our strapped-for-cash councils are prioritising revenue-raising ahead of clearing litter.