It’s privatised. It’s paid for by taxes, but most local authorities put it out to tender and private companies bid for the contract. So, ultimately, some public money ends up in the pockets of shareholders.

It’s the same with speeding fines and parking tickets, and the white collar criminals that call themselves car park management companies. Many folk just pay rather than appeal, thinking that the time it takes to appeal will mean they end up paying full price, but I’m pretty sure the clock is paused during the appeal process.

They were council enforcement rather than police. I suspect if she appealed she would have been let off, but some folk think then they’ll have to pay the full amount because they missed the early payment discount window, which I don’t think is the case.

Also, what’s the difference between this and pouring coffee in the kitchen sink at home? Those enforcement officers were just chancing it.

They are supposed to, except that the water companies just chuck half of into rivers, untreated, to protect their profit margins, and until very recently got away with it scot free.