Residents and parish councils repeatedly vote fly tipping highly, as a matter of local concern. Peter White, Wiltshire Council’s Enforcement Manager will provide up to date information on fly tipping incidents in South West Wiltshire, and colleagues from Wiltshire Police will provide info on their role, working in partnership with the council in this matter.
Minutes:
Karen Linaker, Community Engagement Manager explained the format and introduced the speakers.
Sgt Richard Salter and PC James Barrett gave an outline of the Police role in tackling fly tipping in partnership with Wiltshire Council.
Sgt Salter explained that they dealt with various different areas under rural crime, including hare coursing and rural thefts. We have regular reports of crime taking place in our communities. When I think about rural crime we often think of livestock, farming, criminal damage, poaching and hare coursing, but fly tipping is becoming a blight on our communities.
PC James Barrett explained that when he took over rural policing, WC had taken the lead on investigation and bringing those responsible to court. A lot of the work was carried out by Pete White and his team.
We work in partnership with bordering forces to target individuals. Pete White had carried out training and produced tool kits for our Officers.
If we see a vehicle full of scrap or garden materials, we stop them and ask for their licenses and take action where required. Fines can be up to £300 for certain offences. A lot of the time people are coming across the border to tip waste. We add these people to the number plate recognition list. We can cease vehicles of repeat offenders.
Have carried out joint working, making visits to the scrap yards when we see a spike in thefts of catalytic converters or lead from churches, that works well to nip these problems in the bud.
Have also issued a Police warrant on what was believed to be a ‘chop shop’ an illegal scrap yard.
Also, joint mobile patrols. Before the Covid lockdown, we went out with the WC officers, checking license of contractors carrying out work, and advising members of the public that they must employ people with the correct licences.
Peter White, Wiltshire Council’s Enforcement Manager gave information on local fly tipping incidents in South West Wiltshire.
The collaborative work between Wiltshire Police and WC has make the work on the ground significantly easier.
There was a raise the awareness of the environmental incidents we investigate. I have one FT and one PT staff who work with me across the county.
We are trying to stop flytipping at source, it was about trying to educate householders and businesses to understand that there needed to be relevant checks. Get a receipt, get the details of the vehicle taking the waste away. When we do investigate an incident the house holder could be the one that ends up being prosecuted if they have not done the relevant checks.
Sgt Salter was involved in an operation last month, working with Dorset Police in the Wilton area. Collaborative working with other agencies creates a good relationship with colleagues, resulting in a day of action and some arrests.
Questions:
· Had you considered using small cameras in places there was regular fly tipping incidents?
Answer: Pete - We do use covert cameras; they were strictly regulated. Only used on sites that have a significant problem as have to get a magistrates order signed off. Please use the MyWilts app to register the incidents.
· Compliment the team that deals with fly tipping – once reported it has disappeared within 48hrs.
· Cllr Jeans commented that he had been asked by a PC Chairman to feedback that when they report an issue there should be more feedback to make it worth their while.
Also, what happens when people dump things off a verge, so technically it goes on beyond the edge of the highway. We are told it’s the farmers then that were responsible.
Answer: Pete - That is an interesting point. It was a case of determining who was responsibility it was to clear the land the waste had been placed on. We would not want to start using public money on clearing privately owned land. Whilst the clearance may be the responsibility of the owner, the investigation is something we could be involved with.
There is a reward scheme for people that witness and report flytipping incidents which then result in a successful prosecution.
Cllr Wayman thanked Pete and his team, noting that despite them being small, they did a fantastic job.