The number of flytipping incidents reported in 2022 to 2023 have been revealed and a shocking number of cases have been left unresolved.

According to data held by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs only two per cent of flytipping cases in Slough result in a prosecution or fine.

A total of 1,258 instances of flytipping were reported from 2022 to 2023, with Slough Borough Council only taking action on 322.

Of these, only 27 Fixed Penalty Notices were given out and no prosecution actions were taken.

A Slough Borough Council spokesperson has emphasised that witnesses or CCTV footage of the flytipping incidents is "especially helpful" when trying to find the perpetrator behind the criminal dumping.

"Often the public doesn’t want to get involved even though they are initially happy to report it and say what they saw, but we need more than that, and always must look ahead to if the case were ever to make it to court," the spokesperson added.

"CCTV evidence can also be extremely helpful supported by a witness statement from the person providing us with the footage. These are evidentially required to take the legal steps necessary going forward."

Council officers are often tasked with trawling through waste themselves, taking photos of any names and addresses on the waste to try and identify the offenders.

"Once we have names and addresses the culprits would be called in for an interview to give their explanation as to why their waste has been found in that manner before we decide a course of action, i.e. FPN or pursue another offender."

If the council have enough evidence to enforce a Fixed Penalty Notice or prosecution, a fine of between £400 to £1000 may be issued.

The case can be taken to court if the penalty notice has not been paid or if the offender is a repeat offender. Other instances of court escalation could be due to the scale of the flytipping being more than the maximum fine.

A council spokesperson added: "Some of the bigger outcomes to come from our prosecutions have led to custodial sentences being handed down such as Mr Mohammed Afzal who served 18 months, as well as our recent case against Akaya Lounge which resulted in fines totalling £25,000 and Hamza which resulted in a £11,000 fine.”

Often members of the public may be unaware of their waste being dumped and the council advises that when using contractors it is essential to check they are licenced to carry waste and receive a waste transfer note detailing what waste was taken. 

If disposing of bulky waste, residents can either take it to the council refuse site directly at Chalvey household waste recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection at slough.gov.uk/bins-waste-recycling/bulky-waste-collections