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Swale Borough Council has installed new CCTV cameras in fly-tipping hotspots to catch offenders in the act.

The cameras are monitored 24/7 by the council’s CCTV control room, who help document the evidence the cameras gather and report any illegal activity.

And because the cameras are mobile, they can be redeployed in other areas that see a spike in waste related crime.

Swale has some of the highest levels of fly-tipping in Kent, which costs the council large resources to clear.

This latest move is part of the council’s £32,900 campaign to tackle waste related crimes, which is being funded by a grant from the governments’ Rural Payments Agency.

The funding will also be used to buy additional CCTV cameras, which act as a deterrent to fly-tippers, gathers evidence and helps the council catch repeat offenders.

The council has also recently increased waste-related fixed penalty notices (FPNs), with the fine for serious fly-tipping increasing to £1,000.

Fly-tippers often target households through social media or local advertising, luring customers in with cheap rates to dispose of unwanted furniture, building rubble or garden waste.

However, they often simply dump the waste wherever they can get away with it, including in Kent’s country lanes.

Householders or small businesses found to be using criminals to dispose of their waste can and are being prosecuted by local authorities in Kent with FPNs. Failure to pay an FPN may result in court action where they could face an unlimited fine.

Householders should check first whether someone is licenced to carry waste by visiting the Environment Agency website or calling 03708 506506.

They should also ask for a written receipt or transfer note, including contact details, description of waste removed and details of where the waste is being taken to.

Here is a list of what can be disposed of for free: Charges at HWRCs - Kent County Council

Cllr Rich Lehmann, chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, said, “It is great to see that the grant we received is being put to good use. These new, additional cameras will act as a visual deterrent and will also help capture the evidence we need to take repeat offenders to court.

“Since being installed we haven’t had any fly-tipping at the monitored sites, which is a great sign as people are seeing the warnings and thinking twice before breaking the law.

“We are committed to tackling this issue and, by increasing the maximum charge for FPNs, want to send a strong message to fly-tippers.

“It costs the council, and ultimately the taxpayer, considerable amounts of money to clean up after the selfish individuals who are using our alleys and countryside as their dumping ground.

“It is important that everyone makes sure their waste is disposed of correctly, if fly-tipped waste is linked back to you, you could also be facing a fine.

“If we work together, we can stop the waste getting into the hands of fly-tippers. Please make sure the companies or individuals you are paying to remove your waste have the appropriate license and that you get a waste transfer note.”