Council achieves 100% success rate in fly tip prosecutions
Winchester City Council has been actively looking to reduce fly tipping in the district and has announced a 100% success rate in fly tip prosecutions.
The Neighbour Services team at the City Council works in partnership with Hampshire County Council and other authorities to deter fly tipping. The increase in prosecutions is part of a county-wide fly tip strategy which both encourages the deployment of enforcement groups and works with local magistrates to encourage greater use of the maximum available penalties. To date, those found guilty of the anti-social offence have been ordered to pay a total of £26,606.84 in fines and costs. In one case, a 12 month custodial sentence was imposed as a result of the partnership working across local authorities and gathering of evidence.
Councillor Lisa Griffiths, Winchester City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Safety & Neighbourhood Services and Chair of the Community Safety Partnership explained:
"The Council has made a commitment to supporting the robust processes in place to tackle environmental crime by hiring a neighbourhood Services Enforcement Officer – a role which actively pursues fly tip perpetrators. Our record for success in prosecutions of this nature is impressive and is the direct result of the hard work and collaborative effort of our own staff, and our partners. Those who continue to engage in this anti-social activity can be assured that we will seek the harshest penalties from the Courts. We are proud of our District and this inconsiderate behaviour blights the local environment – we are hoping to deter by example."
Residents of the district can help the City Council maintain the high success rate in fly-tip prosecution by following this advice:
- Do not remove anything - all evidence is vital to identify perpetrators.
- Report it on-line or via the telephone system.
- Make a note of the logging number if you wish to check what progress is being made.
- Wait for the Council to remove the fly-tip material – allow at least 24 hours for the area to be visited and a further 48 hours for removal (once a yellow W has been put on the waste and subject to case load). Please note that if an initial inspection of the fly-tip reveals a hazardous substance, such as asbestos – removal may be delayed whilst specialist contractors are engaged.
- For fly-tipping on private land, the Council will offer a visit to the site and if evidence collected, will pursue for prosecution as appropriate, however site clearance costs will be the responsibility of the landowner.
- Neighbourhood Service Officers can also offer advice about remedial action in order to reduce the risks of fly tip.