Joint agency operation to curb fly tipping gets results

Operation Fly-catcher in action recently

Joint agency operation to curb fly tipping gets results

Cheshire West and Chester Council again joined forces with Cheshire Constabulary's Rural Crime team to carry out intensive enforcement across the borough to tackle fly tipping and waste transfer offences as part of the on-going Operation Flycatcher.

Enforcement officers examined reported fly-tips across the borough, searching for evidence of the offenders. Officers also spoke to residents in the local area and posted letters through doors, asking anyone with information that might help identify those responsible for the fly tipping to come forward. A number of lines of enquiry are now being followed by investigating officers.

Officers from Cheshire Police and the Council also worked in partnership carrying out spot check stops of commercial vehicles throughout the borough.

Commercial vehicles were stopped and checks were carried out to make sure that if they were carrying waste they had the required licences and documentation to do so.

Mobile CCTV also continues to be located in fly tipping hot spot areas across the borough.

The Councils Cabinet Member for Homes, Planning and Safer Communities, Councillor Christine Warner said:

"This operation is part of our continued multi-agency campaign to ensure that unscrupulous individuals and businesses do not get away with disposing of their waste illegally.

We have shown during these operations and with the continued tireless work by Council Enforcement officers throughout the year, that we will not tolerate fly tipping and other waste crimes in Cheshire West and Chester, and as a result for the first six months of this year reports of fly tipping reduced by 43% compared to the same period last year."