Special task force being used to clampdown on fly-tipping in Manchester

Special night-vision cameras are being used in hot spot areas to catch people in the act.

Author: Amy ScarisbrickPublished 17th Aug 2018
Last updated 17th Aug 2018

A special task force has been drafted in to help clampdown on fly-tipping in Manchester.

The team will be sifting through bags of rubbish being dumped on pavements, roads and alleyways to try and identify evidence to help catch those responsible.

Special night vision cameras are also being placed in hot spot areas.

It comes as a fly-tipper from Moston has been prosecuted after being caught in the act on CCTV.

Despite operating under the cover of darkness, Mory Fofana’s offence was picked up by a mobile camera installed by Manchester City Council to detect fly-tippers.

The camera captured a man exiting the back of a property on Swinburn Street, Moston and dumping two sofas on public land at the rear of the property (Footage courtesy of Manchester City Council)

The site was cleared and the CCTV evidence referred to the council’s Environmental Crimes Team for investigation.

The council’s dedicated Environmental Crimes teams work alongside the council’s Neighbourhood Compliance teams, to gather evidence needed to identify and prosecute offenders.

The team identified Mr Mory Fofana, 54, of Swinburn Street, Harpurhey as the culprit, who admitted to dumping the waste when subsequently interviewed under caution.

On 24 July 2018, Mr Fofana pleaded guilty to the fly-tipping offence. He was fined ÂŁ430 and made to pay costs of ÂŁ801 and a victim surcharge of ÂŁ43 - a total penalty of ÂŁ1,274.

Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, said: “Mr Fofana thought he would get away with his crime under cover of darkness and on his own doorstep but hadn’t reckoned on our specially-installed camera capturing his nefarious actions.

“It causes real and justifiable anger in our communities when waste is illegally dumped and our Environmental Crimes team will continue to track down and bring selfish fly-tippers to justice.”

Manchester residents wishing to report a fly-tipping incident, or who have information which could help to catch a fly-tipper, should visit www.manchester.gov.uk/flytipping