NEW Welsh Government statistics have shown an increase in the number of fixed penalty notices issued by Carmarthenshire County Council for environmental crimes such as littering, smoking-related litter and dog fouling.

Over the past year, littering across the county has continued to receive the most Fixed Penalty Notices 270 followed by smoking related litter 139 and dog fouling 64.

Local authorities set the amount charged for litter, dog fouling, graffiti and fly-posting offences, with a maximum fine of £75.

The amount collected by Carmarthenshire between April1, 2013 and March 31, 2014 was £29,240.

Natural Resources Minister Carl Sargeant said, “Littering, dog fouling, graffiti, fly posting and noise offences are completely unacceptable and are a blight on communities across Wales.

“Fixed Penalty Notices are one way of tackling these problems, and it’s very encouraging to see that local authorities are now more proactive in issuing them and punishing those with little or no regard for those around them.

“Recent Keep Wales Tidy figures show that the cleanliness of the streets within each local authority area is improving. This is clearly pleasing and shows that the different measures and tools at the disposal of local authorities and others are having a positive effect on our communities.”