FLYTIPPING is one of our biggest bugbears as it ruins our beauty spots and countryside.

And dumping rubbish illegally in Slough means you're more likely to get away with no punishment, according to new data.

The Local Government Association has warned that nationally the offence costs taxpayers almost £50 million a year to clear up.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs data shows 1,567 fly-tipping incidents were reported to Slough Borough Council in 2019-20.

Out of these incidents, fixed penalty notices were issued 11 times suggesting how more could be done to tackle the issue.

The figures refer to 2019/20 and showed and placed the borough behind the average for the whole of England for enforcement.

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Slough Observer: Photo by PA Photo by PA

Only 1.38 per cent of more than 975,000 incidents nationally resulted in fixed penalty notices.

Fly-tipping incidents in the Slough borough in that time included a man being caught on camera dumping a sofa on a roadside.

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However, he was fined for his actions. 

But in terms of fines issued for fly-tipping in Slough, only 1.91 per cent of incidents resulting in Fixed Penalty Notices.

Fly-tipping is a serious criminal offence. It carries a fine of up to £20,000 and you can even be sent to prison.

It is also an offence to allow fly-tipping if you know it’s going on and the police have the power to seize vehicles used for fly-tipping.

If you allow your car or vehicle to be used for fly-tipping, even if you are not driving yourself, you can still be prosecuted. 

Fly-tipping should be reported to the local council or the Environment Agency.

Reporting to the Police should only be where large scale illegal dumping or hazardous waste is involved.

A spokesman for Slough Borough Council said: “Flytipping is a crime. The council has a zero tolerance on flytipping and have a tenacious team which follows up every incident reported and take enforcement action whenever possible. Powers also include seizing vehicles.

“Successes include a prolific flytipper who was recently jailed for making repeated dumps in the borough and South Bucks.

“However, prosecuting flytippers is challenging. Evidence is required and by its nature flytipping can be anonymous rubbish dumped in secluded areas not witnessed by anyone.

“The council’s prosecutions and fines are only issued where evidence is available to trace the offender, often through the help of the public through witness reports and CCTV identifying associated vehicles."

 

“People are responsible for their waste and are required to dispose of it legally and responsibly.”