Council Cancels £150 Fine for Coffee in Drain

Burcu Yesilyurt, a Kew resident, poured a small amount of coffee from her reusable cup into a street drain while waiting for a bus and was stopped by three Richmond-upon-Thames enforcement officers who issued a £150 fixed-penalty notice under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. She says she was shocked, had no idea pouring liquids into drains was illegal, believed the penalty disproportionate and that there were no warning signs, and has lodged a complaint and not paid the notice. Richmond-upon-Thames Council initially defended its officers, saying body-worn camera footage shows they acted professionally and the fine was issued in line with policy and appeal procedures. After reviewing the case amid public attention, the council said it would cancel the FPN "on this occasion." The case has prompted calls for clearer public information about what constitutes an offence under Section 33 and has raised wider questions about the proportionality and communication of local enforcement.