Van involved in flytipping seized by Wiltshire Police and Council
The vehicle's been confiscated from the Amesbury area
A van's been seized by Wiltshire Police and the Council in the Amesbury area, after it's believed to have been involved in flytipping.
The Ford Transit was seen on CCTV being used to dump commercial waste illegally on a public right of way in Bulford.
Local authorities have the power to confiscate vehicles for up to 15 days, while investigations are carried out, under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The seizure can be longer if a prosecution goes ahead - and it could even crushed or sold off if a magistrates decides that as punishment.
Councillor Nick Holder, Cabinet Member for Highways, said:
"I would like to thank Wiltshire Police for their assistance in this case, this is a great example of our officers and police colleagues working together to combat environmental crime in Wiltshire.
“Fly-tipping is a key priority for us as a council and we are working hard to try and eradicate it across the county and prosecute those responsible. Not only is it a criminal offence but it can be a real blight on our communities. Where we come across evidence that a vehicle may have been used for fly-tipping, we will use our legal powers to seize it.
"If it is found that the owner is engaging in fly-tipping or transporting waste without the correct waste carrier documentation, we will look to extend these powers to either crush or sell the vehicle.
“We hope that this seizure will act as a stark warning to anyone who may be tempted to fly-tip waste or to use unlicensed waste carriers.”
Inspector Andy Lemon of Wiltshire Police’s Rural Crime Team said:
“Wiltshire Police work closely with Wiltshire Council, carrying out joint operations throughout the year across the county to prevent fly tipping, and hold those responsible to account.
"Fly tipping is a priority for rural crime teams nationally, and we remain committed to working with the local authorities to prevent fly tipping from taking place, as we understand the negative implications this can have on our communities.”
How can we help tackle flytipping
We're reminded that we have a duty of care to ensure our rubbish is disposed of correctly - especially if we use a clearance service.
To prevent waste being fly-tipped, householders are urged to:
• Check the person has a valid upper tier waste carrier licence and note down the number
• Note details of the vehicle used, such as the make, model and registration number
• Obtain a receipt or waste transfer note
If the waste is dumped, we could then give council officers this information, and would mean the person who dumped the waste is liable for prosecution, rather than the householder.