Homeowners who fail to control Japanese knotweed face criminal prosecution under new anti-social behaviour laws.
People who fail to control Japanese knotweed in their gardens can now be prosecuted and fined thousands of pounds for anti-social behaviour according to new Home Office rules.
Guidance documents updated this week specifically name the plant alongside Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed as a source of "serious problems" that new laws can help tackle.
Individuals who ignore orders to control Japanese knotweed will have committed a criminal offence and can be fined up to ?2,500 according to the guidance.
This is the first time such plants have been specifically named in anti-social behaviour guidance and marks a radical departure from the more common targets of intimidation and heavy drinking.
Previous environmental legislation has for years threatened fines and even jail for those plant Japanese knotweed in the wild.
However the new guidance specifically addresses the problem in residential areas, allowing people to effectively dob-in neighbours to the police if the plant is invading their garden.
The move is likely to be cheered by campaigners who have rallied against the environmental havoc and financial burden caused by Japanese knotweed.
The potential cost of trying to eradicate the plant in Britain has been estimated at more than ?1.25 billion, while just clearing the weed from 10 acres of the London Olympics site cost more than ?70 million.
People who fail to control Japanese knotweed in their gardens can now be prosecuted and fined thousands of pounds for anti-social behaviour according to new Home Office rules.
Guidance documents updated this week specifically name the plant alongside Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed as a source of "serious problems" that new laws can help tackle.
Individuals who ignore orders to control Japanese knotweed will have committed a criminal offence and can be fined up to ?2,500 according to the guidance.
This is the first time such plants have been specifically named in anti-social behaviour guidance and marks a radical departure from the more common targets of intimidation and heavy drinking.
Previous environmental legislation has for years threatened fines and even jail for those plant Japanese knotweed in the wild.
However the new guidance specifically addresses the problem in residential areas, allowing people to effectively dob-in neighbours to the police if the plant is invading their garden.
The move is likely to be cheered by campaigners who have rallied against the environmental havoc and financial burden caused by Japanese knotweed.
The potential cost of trying to eradicate the plant in Britain has been estimated at more than ?1.25 billion, while just clearing the weed from 10 acres of the London Olympics site cost more than ?70 million.
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