FOI Reference: FOI/2021/2993
You asked
Hello,
How many reports of littering due to plastic tree shelters and guards have there been in the last 40 years, and year on year?
How many prosecutions (including penalty fines) for littering due to plastic tree shelters and guards have there been last 40 years, and year on year
What were the results of any prosecutions, including penalty fines? How big were any fine amounts?
Please provide this information electronically, via email. In Excel or Word format.
Tree shelters or guards are the plastic tubes placed over newly planted trees for the first few years of their life to help them grow and to stop them being eaten by animals. Most are petrochemical plastic. They've been used heavily since the 1980s and a lot are left to degrade in situ adding to plastic pollution.
We said
Thank you for your request.
Unfortunately, we do not hold the data you have requested.
The Home Office is responsible for police recorded crime data so may be able to provide more information around your requested data. They can be contacted at the following email address: CrimeandPoliceStats@homeoffice.gov.uk.
Statistics relating to the courts such as prosecutions are primarily collected by the Ministry of Justice, and they may be able to provide further assistance. They can be contacted at the following email address: ESD@justice.gov.uk.