The Black Spots to Bright Spots fly-tipping project has achieved a number of successful enforcement outcomes: six individuals prosecuted, four have paid £400 Fixed Penalty Notices, one simple caution signed and many warning letters issued.
Although the majority of the convictions were for fly-tipping, there were also some for waste duty of care breaches and fraud. Half of the prosecutions were down to footage captured by a covert camera, which is a proactive way of gathering evidence. One of the prosecutions relating to two family members fly-tipping four times caught on camera, achieved a great deal of press coverage and has been shown on ITV ‘Tonight’ and BBC ‘Caught Red Handed’.
More cases are waiting to be heard in court and one offender is due to be sentenced at Crown Court; delays have occurred due to Covid. On-going investigations include fly-tips of tyres and cannabis and a joint investigation with Newport Council regarding a serial fly-tipper the public helped identify following a press appeal to name the individual caught on camera.
Fly-tipping caught on camera.
The enforcement work has been further supported by the use of a visible CCTV camera in Peterstone which helps act as a deterrent (joint working between Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Newport Council), and placement of ‘No Fly-tipping’ signs. A new sign has been designed and will be placed in areas of the Gwent Levels in the Summer to show how many fly-tipping offenders have been fined since 2020 (following NRW and LA investigations). The number on the sign will be updated as more fines are paid to ensure they are current.
Pam Jordan
Senior Fly-tipping Officer
Fly-tipping Action Wales
