Latest news with #localauthorities
Telegraph
21 hours ago
- General
- Telegraph
Dropping kebab scraps in rat-infested Berlin could mean €25k fine
Tourists in Berlin face fines of up to €25,000 for dropping kebab scraps on the street as the German capital tries to get to grips with a plague of rats in its party district. Hermannplatz is the start and end point for many a wild night in the German capital, which is famous for parties that can go on for days. The square sits above one of the busiest subway stations in the city, with revellers streaming out to the bars and clubs of the surrounding district of Neukölln. More recently, however, the square has become host to more unwelcome guests – an infestation of rodents. This week, local authorities started a campaign to bring the rodent population under control. City officials put up posters in three languages, including English, on the square that said: 'Don't feed rats.' The campaign is accompanied by penalties that threaten people with fines of up to €25,000 (£21,300) for failing to put their food waste in bins, or for feeding the pigeon population. The measure is set to outstrip a €10,000 littering fine in Parma, making it the toughest penalty for public littering in Europe. Hannes Rehfeldt, the district councillor for social affairs and health, said: 'We humans create the best living conditions for rats. Their population depends on our behaviour. That is why the clear message from the Neukölln district authority is: don't feed rats.' Starting next month, public order officials will patrol the square in order to catch offenders as the city tries to reduce the quantities of rubbish off which the rats are feeding. Local authorities say that the problem has become so bad that there is a serious threat that the rodents could spread diseases such as rabies and hepatitis. Berlin is believed to have a population of at least two million rats, a typical number for a city of its size. However, in recent years authorities have had to close several play parks because of rat infestations caused by food waste. In the 1920s, Hermannplatz was home to one of Germany's most glamorous shopping malls, the Karstadt Kaufhaus, which was destroyed in the Second World War. In its modern incarnation, the square has a reputation as a meeting spot for drug addicts and a place to buy a cheap kebab on the way back from a night out.
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Leeds tell fans not to travel for pre-season tour in Germany for second year in a row
Leeds United have, for the second year in a row, asked supporters not to travel to Germany when Daniel Farke takes the team there next month. The club has apologised to fans and pointed the finger at police and local authorities for denying them match permits in the past week. Last summer, after the strain of Euro 2024, Leeds were told German police could not stretch to support their friendlies in the country and ordered no fans be permitted. However, 12 months later, with no major tournament in the country, the outcome is the same. Advertisement A club statement said: 'Opponents and venues for fixtures were arranged earlier this year, and written assurances secured from both the German FA and our tour operator as well, given last summer we were asked at short notice by the police and local authorities not to bring supporters due to a resource strain following UEFA Euro 2024. 'Frustratingly, despite having matches agreed for a number of months, we have in the last week been informed the police and local authorities will, once again, not grant a permit for us to play matches in front of spectators, will prohibit us from providing live updates and video streams, and have requested we discourage supporter travel.' Leeds insist they have then tried to offer various assurances to the decision-makers, as well as sought alternative scenarios to permit fan attendance. Moving the camp elsewhere in Germany was considered, but the club say they had no joy because of how last-minute the changes were. 'This result is deeply frustrating to all of us, just as it is sure to frustrate and anger you, our loyal supporters, to whom we apologise unreservedly for this outcome,' the club said. ()
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Tourists risk £1,500 fine for breaking new rules in major tourist destination
Tourists visiting a popular resort town in Europe could face on-the-spot fines of up to £1,500 under tough new rules aimed at curbing antisocial behaviour. Albufeira in southern Portugal, long known for its sun-soaked beaches and vibrant nightlife, has seen increasing scrutiny over the behaviour of some tourists - particularly during the summer high season The city's new Code of Conduct targets a range of disruptive actions that have sparked concern among locals and authorities - banning everything from public nudity and sex acts to street drinking, loud noise, and urinating in public. The harshest penalties - between €500 (£426) and €1,800 (£1,500) - will apply to those caught fully naked or engaging in sexual acts in public. Partial nudity away from designated beach areas, public drinking, urinating or defecating in public, and creating excessive noise are also punishable by fines ranging from €300 (£255) to €1,500 (£1,277). Other violations listed in the code include spitting, misuse of public furniture, and abandoning shopping trolleys, as Albufeira City Council seeks to restore order and cleanliness in high-traffic tourist zones. The crackdown follows a series of incidents, including a viral video last year of eight British men dancing naked on a bar in broad daylight on Albufeira's main party strip, Rua da Oura. The footage led to widespread outrage, prompting an emergency meeting between local authorities and business owners. The UK Foreign Office issued a travel alert on Thursday, 26 June, warning British nationals of the new regulations, declaring: 'The municipality of Albufeira has introduced a code of conduct which bans inappropriate behaviour in public places. 'Check out the rules that are now in force. If you break the rules, you could be fined on the spot from between 150 and 1,800 euros.' The city council for the Algarve city approved the new code of conduct in May 'to prevent abusive behaviour by tourists', as reported by Travel Weekly. The crackdown follows a series of incidents, including a viral video last year of eight British men dancing naked on a bar in broad daylight on Albufeira's main party strip, Rua da Oura (pictured) Speaking in May, Mayor José Carlos Rolo said the code was part of a broader strategy to repair Albufeira's image, adding that the rules hope to 'promote harmony' between the tourism sector and local population. Meanwhile, Faro Airport in Portugal will start the rollout of e-gate access to UK arrivals this month ahead of the peak summer season in the Algarve, a minister revealed today. The announcement comes after the Government said on May 19 that British passport holders will be able to use e-gates at more European airports as part of a UK-EU deal. Since Brexit, Britons arriving at EU airports have generally been forced to queue for manned desks to have their passports stamped, rather than use automated gates with facial recognition technology – leading to long waits, particularly in peak periods.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Education Secretary unveils £1.7million boost for pupils with special needs in win for The Sun's Give It Back campaign
THE Sun's Give It Back campaign was hailed by the Education Secretary yesterday, as she unveiled a £1.7million boost for pupils with special needs. Funds announced by Bridget Phillipson allow up to 4,000 schools to borrow tech such as reading pens and iPads. 2 2 The 'lending libraries' pilot will cover 32 local authorities, giving schools access to devices tailored to pupils' needs. Reading pens scan and vocalise text, while tablets help non-verbal students communicate with images. In school trials, 86 per cent of staff saw behavioural improvements. It came as figures showed the number of kids with Education, Health and Care Plans — which detail extra supports needed by pupils — surged by 11 per cent to 638,700. Our campaign calls on the Government to give funding to council budgets for social care and support for disabled children. Ms Phillipson said too many were not having their needs identified early enough. She added: 'We inherited a SEND system on its knees, and at the heart of these figures are families fighting for support that should just be readily available. 'Too many children are not having their needs identified at an early enough stage, creating a vicious cycle of overwhelmed local services and children's support needs escalating to crisis point. 'We're improving things right now and will break this vicious cycle with wide-ranging reform.' Ms Phillipson said extra funding in schools — such as for wheelchair ramps — was 'supporting the goals of The Sun's Give it Back campaign'.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Drivers fined £1MILLION last year for one type of road traffic offence after councils were given new powers to extend the war on motorists
Motorists last year were fined almost £1million for one type of road traffic offence that's only been enforced outside of London and Cardiff for the last three years under new rules to extend the war on drivers. A staggering £998,640 of penalty charge notices (PCNs) were issued to drivers in 2024 for one specific infringement. Local authorities hit them with penalty charges for breaching rules at just 36 different yellow box junctions across England. It comes after the Government in May 2022 allowed councils to apply for the right to enforce this type of moving traffic offence, essentially giving power to local authorities to treat motorists like cash cows. It includes taking over enforcement powers from police for a number of different moving traffic violations, such as ignoring no entry signs and driving in designated cycle lanes. The RAC, which obtained the statistics through Freedom of Information requests, said the 'enormously high number' of PCNs should 'send alarm bells ringing in council offices'. Below is a list of the local authorities issuing the most yellow box junction fines. Click the links to see where these box junctions are located. Yellow boxes are used in an attempt to ensure traffic flows smoothly through busy junctions. Motorists should not enter them unless their exit is clear or they are waiting to turn right. London and Cardiff were the only parts of the UK where drivers could be fined for yellow box offences until the Government introduced new legislation in 2022, which enables all councils across England to apply for enforcement powers. Data provided by English councils in response to FoI requests by the motoring organisation showed that just 36 yellow boxes outside London and Cardiff were enforced last year. However, these locations triggered 32,748 PCNs. Penalty charges for these types of infringements are generally £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days. Kent's Medway Council raised the second highest amount at £145,162 after handing out 4,433 PCNs for the five yellow boxes it enforced. Pictured: Yellow box at Rainham Road, junctions with Ash Tree Lane and Canterbury Street, Gillingham The RAC analysis found Manchester City Council issued the most box junction-related PCNs, with 13,130 for six box junctions across its network. This brought in £446,706 which was nearly half of all yellow box-related revenue outside London and Cardiff. Kent's Medway Council raised the second highest amount at £145,162 after handing out 4,433 PCNs for the five yellow boxes it enforced. It was followed by Buckinghamshire Council, which received £139,798 for 3,618 fines. But the single junction that generated the largest revenue was at Dennis Roundabout in Guildford, Surrey, which cost drivers £81,445 as 4,250 PCNs were issued. At the other end of the scale, Gloucestershire County Council issued just 30 yellow box PCNs, raising £945, while Leeds City Council handed out 50 fines, resulting in £605 being paid. Only a fraction of yellow box fines are appealed by drivers, but the proportion of attempts that are successful can be as high as 87 per cent in the case of Medway Council. RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said a yellow box which generates a small number of fines indicates it is 'working as it should', which must be the ambition for councils rather than using them as a 'revenue-raising opportunity'. He went on: 'Very few people set out to deliberately flout the rules and get fined. 'The large number of penalties being dished out over a small number of locations and in a short space of time should send alarm bells ringing in council offices. 'It's vital box junctions are used in the correct places and are only as big as absolutely necessary. 'They must be fairly set up so that drivers don't find themselves stranded through no fault of their own.' The Government in May 2022 allowed councils to apply for the right to enforce this type of moving traffic offence, essentially giving power to local authorities to treat motorists like cash cows RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said a yellow box should not be seen as a 'revenue-raising opportunity' for councils Chartered engineer Sam Wright was commissioned by the RAC to analyse the 100 boxes across London and Cardiff which were responsible for generating the most fines in 2019. A report published last year showed he found 98 were larger than necessary for their role in preventing queuing vehicles blocking the path of crossing traffic. The average box was 50 per cent bigger than needed, according to the research. The Local Government Association, Manchester City Council, Medway Council and Buckinghamshire Council have been approached for comment.
