Anti-social behaviour helper

Summary of the problem

Flyposters are adverts pasted or stuck onto walls or buildings usually to advertise or promote events. They are placed without permission of the owner of the property and can take the form of stickers, signs or posters and can make an area look run down.

Fly-posting is a criminal offence under section 224(3) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Who you can report the problem to

• Report the problem to your council. You can find out how using this link

• Report the problem to your Anti-social Behaviour Coordinator, Team or local Neighbourhood Policing Team. Use our postcode search to find local contact details

• If you are the tenant of a social landlord (the council or a housing association), report it to your landlord

• If the fly-posting is affecting your property ask the council or if you are a social housing tenant, your housing association know how best to have it removed. They may provide you with the materials to do so or offer a free or a chargeable removal service

If you are unsure what to do or who to speak to, contact your anti-social behaviour team. Use our postcode search to find local contact details. If they are not directly responsible they will be able to help you to find who is.

What can be done to tackle fly-posting problems?

Your local council is usually responsible for removing fly-posting from public buildings, street furniture or monuments. If the fly-posting is affecting your property ask the council or if you are a social housing tenant, your housing association how best to have it removed. They may provide you with the materials to do so or offer a free or a chargeable removal service.

There is a range of tools and powers which can be used to tackle fly-posting problems, including:

• Warning letters given to individuals

• On the spot fines

• Acceptable behaviour contracts or agreements (ABCs/ABAs) if the problems are ongoing

• Anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs), if the person is persistently fly-posting after warnings, for example these could stop a person from carrying posters or advertisements. Breach of an ASBO is a criminal offence

• Fines or prosecutions in court under section 224(3) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990

Removing fly-posting from property such as telephone boxes, bus shelters and electricity boxes are the responsibility of the company that has placed them there.

Your local council cannot remove fly-posting from private properties without the owner's permission. If you live in rented accommodation, speak to your landlord about how to remove the fly-posting. Whatever action is taken, you should expect the council or the police to keep you informed.