Mobile CCTV cameras set to catch fly-tippers at hotspots in York
Installation has been delayed due to the pandemic and staff absence.
Last updated 25th Nov 2021
More mobile CCTV cameras are going to be used to catch fly-tippers in York.
Installation of the cameras has been delayed due to the pandemic and staff absence.
But surveillance will now ramp up as part of an effort by the council to identify fly-tipping hotspots in the city.
The use of mobile CCTV cameras designed to catch fly-tippers will increase significantly in the coming months, York councillors have been told.
Implementation of the mobile cameras has been delayed due to the pandemic and staff absence, according to the council’s head of community safety, Jane Mowat.
But surveillance will now ramp up as officers seek to identify fly-tipping hotspots, in accordance with rules set out by the Office of Surveillance Commissioners, which oversees the conduct of covert surveillance.
The cameras can only be used in areas where it is agreed there is a problem and signs notifying people that filming is going on must be put up.
The council issued just two cautions for fly-tipping during 2020-2021 under the environmental protection act.
Executive member for economy and strategic planning Andrew Waller and executive member for housing and safer neighbourhoods Denise Craghill backed the move, noting they had fly-tipping hotspots in their respective wards.
Coun Waller said: “I think it’s important to say we can’t be everywhere, every time, but we are actively doing this and where there are successful prosecutions that that is advertised so that people might modify their behaviour if they think they have a strong chance of being caught and fined significant sums of money.