Families hit with £250 fines for kids' toy mistake as furious parents insist ‘we thought we were being nice'

Scottish Sun

24-06-2025

A four-year-old was left in tears after an 'aggressive' enforcement officer threatened to call the cops on his mum
FINES FURY Families hit with £250 fines for kids' toy mistake as furious parents insist 'we thought we were being nice'
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JOBSWORTH council bosses are hitting families with £250 fines for leaving kids' toys with 'please take' signs outside their own homes.
Enforcement officials in Merton, South London, were slammed after threatening to call the police in front of a four-year-old boy for 'littering' when his mum tried to donate a Hot Wheels set to her local community.
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Residents were trying to offer up the items for free
Credit: Facebook
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One mother was trying to give away a hot wheels set worth £150
Credit: Facebook
MPs and campaigners last night pushed back against the council's 'needless overreach."
One case saw the mum of a four-year-old confronted by a uniformed enforcement officer after attempting to give away a £150 toy car set.
She told The Sun: 'So many families are struggling at the moment, I thought it was a nice thing to do.
'I said I wouldn't accept the fine because it was ridiculous, and the man got aggressive and said he would call the police if I didn't pay.
'My tiny son was next to me and asked, 'Mummy, why are the police here?'
'When they got pushy, he started crying.'
Local mum Kate Wood was also targeted by enforcement officers for putting a paddling pool outside her front garden in nearby Colliers Wood with a 'please take' sign on.
She wrote on a local social media forum: 'I was trying to do a good thing and avoid taking this to the dump, and it's very obviously outside my house and not fly tipping. I'm speechless.'
A whistleblower who briefly worked as a Merton environment officer described how officers are encouraged to use 'aggressive and sneaky tactics' to maximise the fines.
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He claimed he was explicitly told to hide around corners and target 'vulnerable' young women to hit their quotas.
A Merton Council spokesperson insisted leaving items on the pavement 'even with the best intentions' could still be classed as fly tipping.
A spokesperson for the council said: 'We understand that residents may want to share items they no longer need with their neighbours, and we support reuse and donation when it is done responsibly.
'We've spoken to the individuals involved in the incidents raised and have addressed their concerns which have now been resolved.
'We'll also ensure responses in cases like this are proportionate to the offence.
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An enforcement officer threatened to call the police on one woman
Credit: Facebook
"We are listening to residents and take all feedback seriously.
'Our enforcement officers work to keep streets clean and safe for everyone.
"They are expected to follow strict protocols and act professionally at all times.'
The council encouraged residents to donate unwanted items to charities like the British Heart Foundation or the Salvation Army.
A spokesperson for the council said locals should consider selling or giving items away on Facebook Marketplace or Freecycle.