New CCTV cameras for flytipping hotspots

Mobile CCTV cameras are to be trialled in Tameside’s hotspot areas for flytipping and other anti-social behaviour.

The deployable cameras, which are easy to install as well as move to new locations to meet changing requirements, have already been successfully piloted in neighbouring Greater Manchester authorities.

Tameside Council maintains a list of hot spot areas for flytipping, which is regularly updated and is used to determine where enforcement activity should be focussed. It is hoped the cameras - which council enforcement officers will use to target these hotspot areas - will help to prevent flytipping and other anti-social behaviour, as well as support investigations following incidents.

Signs will be in place at all locations prior to cameras being installed.

The trial, which is due to start next month, was welcomed by members of Tameside Council’s Enforcement Panel at their meeting on 27 March.

A Tameside Council spokesperson said: “There is no excuse for flytipping. It is a criminal offence which blights communities, brings neighbourhoods down, poses a risk to public health and the environment and drains the public purse in clean up costs. We will always take enforcement action where we find evidence of those responsible and have already this year issued 133 fixed penalty notices for waste offences as well as successfully carried out four prosecutions.

“We have a number of strategies already in place to tackle waste offences and have officers out every day investigating flytipping as well as regular days of enforcement action. The CCTV cameras should hugely support this work in both deterring and catching offenders, as they have elsewhere.”

Householders are reminded they have a legal duty of care to ensure their waste is disposed of responsibly. One of the common flytipping culprits include “man in a van” type operators, who often tout their services on social media and take payment to remove waste before illegally dumping it.

Anyone asking a third party e.g. a builder or contractor to dispose of waste on their behalf, should ensure they are a registered waste carrier. You are responsible for checking they are registered. Always follow these steps:

• Ask to see their waste carrier registration certificate.
• Always get a receipt confirming what they have taken and where they have disposed of the waste and details of any payment made. 

Details of registered waste carriers can be found on the Environment Agency public register.

For further details on how to report flytipping and useful information which may support investigations see www.tameside.gov.uk/flytipping