Fly-tipping: Fines
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of levels of fines for fly-tipping.
Answered by Mary Creagh
We have committed to forcing fly-tippers and vandals to clean up the mess they have created. This will build on the sanctions already available which include fixed penalty notices of up to £1000, seizing and crushing of vehicles and prosecution which can lead to a significant fine, a community sentence or even imprisonment. We do not intend to carry out any further assessment of the adequacy of levels of fines for fly tipping.
The Defra chaired National Fly-tipping Prevention Group has produced a guide on how local authorities, and others, can present robust cases to court. This is available at https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/national-fly-tipping-prevention-group.
We encourage councils to make good use of their enforcement powers, and we are currently seeking powers to provide statutory guidance on fly-tipping enforcement. We have also announced a review of their powers to seize and crush the vehicles of suspected fly-tippers, to identify how we could help councils make better use of this tool.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →