Enfield Borough Council features in a BBC TV programme due to be aired tonight, Monday 28th Jan.

The BBC investigation alleges that some local authorities - including Enfield - have appointed a private contractor Xfor and incentivised them, not to keep Enfield tidy, but to collect as many litter fines as possible with the express intent of raising money for the council.

The number of litter fines issued by English councils has rocketed from 727 in 1997 to 63,883 last year. Typically an on the spot fine costs the perpetrator £80 - of which the contractor keeps £45. The investigation suggests that since appointing Xfor as a contractor the number of litter fines in Enfield have doubled. Fines as a result of someone dropping a cigarette butt have risen by 94% in Enfield.

What's your view ... is this fair enough? Simply don't litter and you won't get fined ... or are these fines too draconian for a minor misdemeanor?  Is there something else going on here? ...are hard pressed libraries and community facilities being supported on the back of profiteering from private companies.

What do you think?

BBC Inside Out is on BBC One in the London region on Monday, 28 January at 19:30 GMT and nationwide on the iPlayer for seven days following transmission.