PEOPLE who have not filled in their Census form could face a £1,000 fine.

Greenwich Council is advising people to complete their forms or risk being prosecuted as failing to return the Census is a criminal offence.

The amount of funding which goes to the borough for services such as health, schools and the police is worked out based on the number of people counted in the census as living there.

Seven people counted would pay for one nurse in Greenwich and 11 people counted would pay for a police officer or teacher.

Deputy leader of the council, Councillor Peter Brooks, said: “Returning your census form really does make a huge difference to the services we provide and we can’t risk the Greenwich population not being counted correctly.

“It would mean we wouldn’t have the right amount of money to provide for everyone who lives here.”

For help with your form, call Greenwich Council’s Census team on 020 8921 5519/3529 or email census@greenwich.gov.uk