Fly-tipping
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to tackle fly-tipping on agricultural and rural land in North East Hampshire; what enforcement powers and resources are available to local authorities to tackle rural fly-tipping; and what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of current penalties for fly-tipping offences.
Answered by Mary Creagh
We encourage local councils to investigate all fly-tipping incidents, including on agricultural/rural land. Councils have powers to take enforcement action. Anyone caught fly-tipping may be prosecuted which can lead to a significant fine, a community sentence or imprisonment. Instead of prosecuting, councils can issue a fixed penalty notice of up to £1,000 to fly-tippers. Councils also have powers to seize and search vehicles of suspected fly-tippers. On conviction, the court can make a cost order so that a landowner’s costs can be recovered from the perpetrator and the ownership of vehicles connected with fly-tipping can be transferred to the council.
We have published best practice guidance on vehicle seizure on the website of the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG). We work with several interested parties through the NFTPG, such as the National Farmers Union (NFU), to promote practical tools including guides on how to prevent fly-tipping on private land. These are available at: https://nftpg.com/
We have obtained powers in the Crime and Policing Act 2026 for the courts to award between 3 and 9 penalty points on driving licences for those found guilty of fly-tipping.
No assessment has been made of the adequacy of current penalties for fly-tipping offences.
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