Councils encouraged to crush fly-tippers' vehicles

The government has published new guidance to help local authorities crack down on waste crime.

New statistics have revealed that there were 1.26 million incidents of fly-tipping last year.

Government guidance will, for the first time, advise local authorities how to seize and crush vehicles used to dump waste. 

The new guidance will provide a comprehensive overview for councils, offering clear clear instructions on identifying, seizing, and disposing of vehicles involved in fly-tipping, as well as advice on taking cases to court and securing convictions against vehicle owners. 

To further deter would-be offenders, councils are also encouraged to name and shame those involved on social media, while also sharing images and videos of their vehicles being crushed. The guidance also offers suggestions for maximising engagement and awareness of council enforcement on social media, including repurposing seized vehicles to clean up other incidents of fly-tipping.

Councils are also advised that overt and covert  surveillance techniques, such as CCTV, drones and Automatic Number Plate Recognition should also be deployed to catch criminals in the act.

Circular Economy Minister, Mary Creagh said: "We are empowering local authorities to clamp down on waste cowboys and restore pride in our local areas.

"I share the public’s fury at seeing our streets, parks and fields used as dumping grounds. Fly-tippers should know – if you use your van to trash our countryside, don’t be surprised when it ends up on the scrapheap.

"This government is investing in cutting-edge technology and boosting Environment Agency funding to put more waste crime officers on the ground, while introducing tougher checks and penalties for those who break the law."