Council call to residents for video footage to tackle fly-tippers

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s crackdown on fly-tippers continues and footage obtained on household CCTV cameras, dash-cams or doorbell cameras can help bring about successful prosecutions.

The Council already uses its own CCTV cameras at well-known hotspots around the borough but has also received footage of fly-tipping in progress, taken by members of the public on various devices.  Fixed Penalty Notices have already been issued following receipt of this evidence and other offences are currently being investigated.

Anyone caught illegally dumping waste in west Cheshire could face a Fixed Penalty Notice of £400, or a fine or up to £50,000 or even a prison sentence for the most serious cases.

A fly tipping offender was recently arrested for failing to appear when summonsed to Court.  They were held in a cell for five hours and then taken to Court, where they were convicted and fined.

The Council’s Cabinet Member for Homes, Planning and Safer Communities, Councillor Christine Warner said:

“Members of the public might not realise that footage they may inadvertently capture can be used as evidence by our Enforcement team.

“If you have any footage of fly-tipping taking place, please send it through to us along with as much information as possible.

“Fly tipping is a criminal offence which the Courts take very seriously as demonstrated by the recent arrest and conviction of an offender.”

“There is absolutely no excuse for fly-tipping, it blights our communities and costs money to clear away. That is why we will take any steps necessary to find and prosecute offenders.

“The message is clear…Fly-tippers beware!  We are ALL watching…” 

Anyone with footage of fly-tipping in action can email it to: 

RegulatoryServices@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

The Council is again urging residents to not be tempted to use the services of Illegal waste carriers who often target potential customers via social media.

Unlicensed carriers often simply dump the waste along country lanes or in alleyways leaving the bill for removal and disposal with the Council.

The Council’s Public Protection team will look for any evidence they can find in fly-tips and any householder or small businesses found to be using rogue traders to dispose of their waste can also be prosecuted for failing in their duty of care to dispose of their waste appropriately.

Cllr Warner added:

“Please check anyone disposing of waste for you is a licensed waste carrier – always be wary if you are approached by an individual to take your rubbish away.”

If you discover illegal tipping of waste or see it being tipped, report it 24 hours a day on the Council’s website.

Check a waste carrier is registered on the Environment Agency’s website: 

environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers