SINCE its launch last month, only four fixed penalty notices have been issued to litter louts by the police or Teignbridge Council officers.

Three of the notices, which mean an instant £50 fine for those caught dropping litter, were issued by police in Newton Abbot, and the other in Kingsteignton.

Two were people from Teignmouth, caught dropping rubbish in the Rose Gardens, Courtenay Park, another was a Torquay man in Sherborne Road, and the other offence was in Newton Road, Kingsteignton, committed by Kingsteignton resident.

Police are also proceeding with the prosecution of an alleged under-aged offender for the offence of littering.

Town clerk, Rod Tuck, told Newton Abbot Town Council environment services committee, on Wednesday, that it was hoped that the joint Teignbridge Council/ police initiative would have seen evidence of double figures or more.

'It is a start, but it is a slow start. The first one was assisted by cctv,' said Mr Tuck.

Cllr Geraldine Gaskell believed a visit outside schools would see far more tickets issued to under-age offenders.

'I live near Coombeshead and the litter, including crisp packets and cans, is pretty bad. My husband goes out and picks up bag after bag of rubbish.

'Next to our house are some trees, and if you care to push your way into them you will see two tonnes of it.

'When I was at school, if you were in uniform you represented the school and if anyone did anything wrong outside, they had the book thrown at them when they went back into school,' said Cllr Gaskell.

The committee heard that the head teachers of Coombeshead College and Knowles Hill School, or their deputies responsible for discipline, were attending a Newton Abbot Town Centre partnership meeting next month, where they would be discussing the litter situation, as well as the increasing concern about disorderly behaviour by youngsters in the town, particularly when going to and from school.

Mr Tuck said it would cover where the responsibility of the school starts and stops, and what

was the responsibility of parents.

'There is a time scale as to how long after school time the school has responsibility. These are areas that the governors of both schools are looking at,' he said.

Cllr David Howe said one incident, involving paint in Courtenay Street, could not have been carried through with a prosecution unless it was registered as a crime, and the town centre manager had registered it.

'If people see anyone damaging our flower displays – or anything else – please register it as a crime, otherwise it cannot be followed up,' he said.

The committee was told that nine further district council officers had been trained in issuing dog fouling and litter fixed penalty notices, and arrangements were being made for further training courses.