Reported cases of fly-tipping have fallen in Gravesham, following council action to target perpetrators.

Gravesham Borough Council says it took enforcement action over more than 300 cases of environmental crime in 2021/22, up from 130 the previous year, and saw a reduction in the number of cases reported.

A report put before the council's Cabinet this week stated the action led to the council issuing 220 community protection warnings, two community protection notices, and 82 fixed penalty notices, while 10 cases were prosecuted through the courts.

Over the same period, reports of fly-tipping fell to 2,394 from 3,269 the previous year; and it's thought the figures reflect the creation of the new Environmental Enforcement Team in 2021.

Speaking after the meeting on Monday evening, Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox, Cabinet member for community and leisure, said: “Fly-tipping and littering comes through loud and clear as being right at the top of the issues our residents and businesses want to see action on.

“We listened to those views and created a team dedicated to tracking down and taking action against those who would despoil our town and countryside without any regard to the damage they do to the environment and the inconvenience and cost they cause others.”

All reports of fly-tipping received by the council are now assessed by the Environmental Enforcement Team – which assesses the potential for evidence to be recovered, and has the experience and resources to tackle complex investigations.

If the team determines evidence maybe available, officers will visit and carry out an initial investigation before the waste team attends to clear the fly-tip.

The team has been using anti-social behaviour enforcement powers to tackle environmental crime, and last year was given the power to issue fixed penalty notices to householders found not to have exercised their duty of care in ensuring their waste is being disposed of legally.

Community Protection Warnings – and subsequent Community Protection Notices when the warning is not adhered to – have been effective and have allowed an education first and then enforcement response to lower-level offending.

Enforcement activity focuses mainly on larger scale offences such as fly-tipping as a priority, and the vast majority of enforcement actions since the team was created have been for larger environmental crime offences, as opposed to litter fines. However, if enforcement officers witness any littering offences then action will still be taken.

In March a man was jailed after dumping waste in a country lane – just a year after spitting at a parking warden whilst claiming to have Covid-19.

Graham Swinbourne was picked up by hidden cameras illegally dumping household and garden items in Northfleet Green Road, near Gravesend.

Cllr Mochrie-Cox added: “The creation of our dedicated team and its work in investigating any incidents of environmental crime where evidence could lead them to the perpetrators has made Gravesham an unappealing destination for fly-tippers.

“We are, of course, restricted in our efforts by the law in terms of the amount offenders are fined and the levels of costs we are awarded which dictates to an extent the resources we can commit to enforcement.

“However, our investment of time and money into tackling the problem head-on has sent out a very clear message – we do not tolerate fly-tipping here and we take action whenever we have evidence that leads us to those responsible.”