Vehicles suspected of being used for fly-tipping seized

These seized vehicles are all part of the council’s work to stop fly-tipping, with investigations continuing, which could lead to prosecutions, as well as the vehicles in question being crushed. The news follows the seizure of another vehicle last week on Tuesday evening after the police stopped a tipper style vehicle in St Mary Cray.

This latest vehicle seizures and related investigations are part of the council’s ongoing work against fly-tippers who profit by charging unsuspecting businesses and residents to dispose of waste, only to then illegally dump the waste elsewhere.

The latest three vehicles to be seized were all found at the Star Lane Caravan site in St Mary on Monday 2 June, with a recovery style vehicle being seized along with a tipper truck and a box goods vehicle as well. There continues to be a court injunction in place to stop fly-tipping in St Paul’s Cray Hill Country Park, which is adjacent to Star Lane. The injunction gives additional legal powers, that anyone can be arrested if entering St Paul’s Cray Hill Country Park from and/or through Star Lane Roma Traveller site, by vehicle for any purpose whatsoever.

A council spokesperson said, “We are taking action to stop fly-tipping and this is very much continuing, with all incidents of dumped rubbish being investigated. We are grateful to the police for their support and partnership work. We are also grateful for the support of residents and businesses in the battle against fly-tipping and if you are disposing of rubbish, please do check that the person you are hiring to dispose of your waste is bonafide and a licensed waste carrier. Taking this action is a major help, along with reporting dumped rubbish if you come across it.”

Anyone who needs to report an enviro crime, including fly-tipping, can visit www.bromley.gov.uk/envirocrime, with rewards of up to £500 available for information leading to prosecution.

Residents are also being reminded of the importance to carefully check whether tradespeople they employ have a waste carriers’ licence. Residents are advised to ask to see the permit to check what kind of waste disposal or recovery the business is registered for. In addition, the register can be checked by going to the Environment Agency website Waste Carriers, Brokers and Dealers (data.gov.uk) or by calling 03708 506 506.

Ends

Notes to editors:

• The council operates an enviro crime reward scheme with rewards of up to £500 available for information leading to the successful prosecution of offenders.
• The offence of fly-tipping is set out in Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The maximum penalties for fly-tipping on summary conviction are a £50,000 fine and/or twelve months’ imprisonment. On conviction in a Crown Court, the maximum penalties are an unlimited fine and/or five years imprisonment.

For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Head of Public Affairs, on 020 8461 7670 or email Andrew.Rogers@bromley.gov.uk.