A fly-tipper has been fined £1,000 after the council traced dumped waste back to them using a partially visible delivery label recovered from the scene.
Bags of dumped waste and an abandoned suitcase were discovered on a public footpath near communal bins in Booth Close, Thamesmead by a Peabody Neighbourhood Warden. The warden examined the waste and reported it to the council's Enviro Crime team, who took swift action to open an investigation.
Initially, a damaged delivery label showing a partial name and address was found on a cardboard box, and the officers were unable to identify the perpetrator. Council officers then conducted a more intensive investigation online, alongside council records, to identify a possible individual who could be connected.
Through further investigative enquiries, officers were able to establish additional information that helped identify a suspect. During the interview, the individual confirmed the identity of the fly-tipper, leading to the officers issuing a £1,000 fine.
The Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) has since been paid in full, marking another successful outcome of a complex enviro crime investigation.
Councillor Calum O'Byrne Mulligan, Cabinet Member for Transport, Climate Change, Waste & Streets said:
"Fly-tippers should know: if you dump waste in Greenwich, the council are coming for you. Fly-tipping blights our neighbourhoods, disrespects our residents, and we will not stand for it.
"Our investigators will use every tool at their disposal to ensure fly-tippers are caught, and this case is a clear example of how even a single piece of evidence can lead us back to those responsible.
"This case also showcases the power of organisations working together to keep the borough we all love clean and to get things done. Thank you to the diligent Peabody Neighbourhood Warden who reported the fly-tip to our council officers and provided the initial information to begin the investigation."
Do you have information that can help us identify fly-tippers?
Residents are encouraged to submit information that can help identify a Person of Binterest. We are releasing CCTV footage of people caught fly-tipping on camera, and if you know or recognise any people shown, let us know by filling out our online form.
You can also submit evidence if you witness a fly-tipper in action, including:
- photos or video footage
- doorbell camera footage
- dashcam footage
- CCTV
Evidence should be unedited and include the date and time of the incident.
Our dedicated team will review evidence submitted, and if it leads to a successful fine or prosecution, residents could receive a £100 reward. Evidence can be submitted online.
To date, eight reward payments have been made to residents whose evidence has directly contributed to successful enforcement outcomes. We’ve handed out over 1,040 fines this year as part of our crackdown on fly-tipping.
This work is all part of the council’s £5million Getting Things Done drive to make its streets cleaner by punishing people who fly-tip, as well as improving how it clears up mess and makes it easier for people to get rid of rubbish the right way.
To dispose of waste legally and easily please book a bulky waste collection on the council's website or take it to the Reuse and Recycling Centre.