'Shocking' £150 fine for feeding a pigeon

A woman has spoken about the "shocking" moment she was issued a £150 fine after feeding a pigeon a bit of tortilla wrap.

Sam Elkin, 23, from Southport, was in Manchester with her partner to celebrate her birthday on 9 March when she was handed the fine for "littering" in the city's Piccadilly Gardens.

Sam told BBC Manchester she was sitting with her partner eating a McDonalds wrap. She tore off a piece and put it on the floor for an approaching pigeon and was almost immediately issued a £150 fine by a council enforcement officer.

"The food was literally gone - the pigeons had eaten it and left - before he'd even approached us really," Sam said. "It was shocking, I got really upset."

Sam said the incident, on Monday, had left her feeling "quite vulnerable".

"It was quite scary, to be honest, because I'm only short and the person that approached me was six foot-odd - and my partner's in a wheelchair, so I did feel quite vulnerable in that moment," she said.

She said she "didn't think twice" about tearing off a bit of her wrap for the bird because she did not know it was an offence.

"I tried to explain to the officer that it was our first time properly out in the city - and that I had no idea that it was an offence to feed a bird," Sam said.

"I didn't think twice about it because I always used to feed the birds in Southport."

Sam also said she did not think the fine was appropriate because by the time the officer approached them, the offending 'litter' was gone - having been eaten by the pigeons.

"The bit of tortilla was actually gone," she said. "I pointed it out to him and said, 'Look at the floor, this discarded food that you're talking about is already long gone'."

Sam said when she gave the officer her ID she did not know she was being issued a fine.

"I thought he said he would just give us a warning and then he asked for my ID and obviously I handed it over, not thinking, but then as soon as he took my details, that was it - and it was an £150 fine."

Sam said her and her partner, who is disabled, were living on a "shoestring" budget after recently moving to a new home in Huddersfield.

"We've only recently moved - like, we've still not got our furniture - to to be hit with a fine like that, especially for something as simple as feeding a bird..." she said.

"I mean, there are bigger things going on in the world."

Manchester City Council has said that Sam's case is currently on hold while the council looks into the matter.

A council spokesperson said: "The throwing of rubbish, including items of food, is classed as littering and, where appropriate, enforcement officers will issue a Fixed Penalty Notice if an offence is observed.

"Signage has also been installed in some areas, warning against dropping food for the purposes of feeding pigeons or other birds.

"A Fixed Penalty Notice gives someone the option to deal with the alleged offence by paying the set fine - therefore avoiding prosecution through the courts and, potentially, a much higher fine.

"Since receiving the Fixed Penalty Notice, Ms. Ekins has contacted the Customer Services team and we can confirm that the matter has been placed on hold, so her case and circumstances can be fully considered.

"Littering of this type attracts vermin and can harm the amenity of Manchester's public open spaces.

"Residents and visitors to the city have a shared responsibility in supporting our efforts to make the city cleaner and greener."

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