Crackdown on fly-tippers

Release Date:  03-Jul-2008

Residents are being asked to help the council crack down on fly-tippers in a month-long campaign.

‘Operation Slam’, which kicked off on July 1st and runs for the whole month, will see the council’s streetscene enforcement team targeting fly-tipping hotspot areas. CCTV cameras will be deployed to monitor key areas and surveillance will be carried out at different times of the day and night throughout the month.

A key part of the campaign will be the involvement of the public. Whilst fly-tipped waste is thoroughly searched for evidence, it is not always possible to gather enough to identify the offender. The streetscene enforcement team are asking Bristol residents to keep their eyes and ears open for fly-tipping and if they witness anyone committing this offence, to note down as many details as possible and then report it.

Aled Williams, streetscene enforcement manager, said: “We are asking for Bristol’s help to stop this antisocial activity. What we need to know is when and where the fly-tipping occurs, the offender’s vehicle registration number, and if possible the type of rubbish being dumped - the more information the better.”

Residents can report fly-tipping in the usual way to the council’s hotline - 0117 922 3838 - and if they see fly-tipped waste or have information leading to the suspected offender, they should use this number to report it so the enforcement team can investigate it.

The street scene enforcement team is also working in partnership with the charity Crimestoppers, to encourage people to report the crime. If residents spot someone in the act of fly-tipping and they want to remain anonymous, they can phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to report the offender’s details, and their call will not be recorded or traced.

Leaflets have been distributed to households in areas of the city which are often affected by fly-tipping with both these phone numbers on.

Cabinet Member for Homes and Streetscene, Councillor Judith Price, said: “The fact that Crimestoppers have joined up with us for this campaign shows just how serious a crime fly-tipping is - it damages our environment and is costly to clear up. We want to create better neighbourhoods for everyone in our city and cracking down on the fly-tippers is one way of doing this.  This campaign should send a clear message to potential offenders that we are going to come after you and if we catch you, we will prosecute.”

In the past year, there were 4,605 reported incidences of fly-tipping around Bristol which equated to almost 1,150 tonnes of waste and cost the council £231,848 to clear up.

Fly-tipping is a criminal offence with a maximum fine of £50,000 in a Magistrate’s Court and unlimited in Crown Court. It can also result in up to five years in prison if convicted.

Author:  Catherine Frankpitt / Vicky O'Loughlin t.0117 922 3463

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