Fly-tipper hit with £500 fine after public helps catch offender

A fly-tipper who illegally dumped waste near Yockleton has been fined £500 following an investigation by Shropshire Council.

The fly-tip was reported to the council by two members of the public who witnessed the offender fly-tipping.

Following an investigation by the council’s enforcement team – which gathered witness evidence and carried out detailed enquiries – officers were able to identify the offender and issue a £500 Fixed Penalty Notice.

This demonstrates how information from residents can directly lead to action against those who spoil Shropshire’s environment.

The fly-tip that was reported

David Vasmer, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and waste, said:

“Thanks to the vigilance and co-operation of two members of the public, and the work of our enforcement officers, this fly-tipper is now £500 worse off.

“The witnesses observed the offender fly-tipping and provided us with crucial information. As part of their investigation our enforcement officers obtained two independent witness statements, enabling us to utilise our investigative powers to identify the registered keeper of the vehicle involved and establish the identity of the driver.

“As a result of the evidence gathered, we were able to take enforcement action and issue a £500 fine to the offender.

“This case highlights the vital role that residents play in helping us tackle environmental crime and shows that information provided by residents can be crucial in helping investigators identify offenders and take enforcement action.”

Shropshire Council have recently increased fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping, meaning offenders can now face fines of up to £1,000.

Anyone who witnesses fly-tipping is encouraged to report it through the council website or the FixMyStreet app.