NEW POWERS TO SEIZE AND CRUSH FLY-TIPPING VEHICLES TO CLEAN UP CROYDON

A new crackdown on cowboy waste operators will tackle soaring fly-tipping and clean up Britain’s streets, lanes and rural areas, the Government has announced today.

Labour’s Mayoral Candidate, Rowenna Davis, has pledged to make the most of these new powers in Croydon, which is currently the fly-tipping capital of the UK.

Under the new powers, councils will work with the police to identify, seize and crush vehicles of waste criminals. Drones and mobile CCTV cameras will be deployed to identify cars and vans belonging to fly-tippers so they can be destroyed.

Ministers have launched a rapid review to slash red tape blocking councils from seizing and crushing vehicles. Councils currently have to bear the significant cost of seizing and storing vehicles but under new plans fly-tippers will cover this cost, saving councils and taxpayers money.

In addition, waste cowboys will now be given a custodial sentence for operating illegally. Any criminals caught transporting and dealing with waste illegally will now face up to five years in prison under the new legislation.

Commenting on the announcement, Davis said: “Croydon’s beautiful streets are being trashed by fly-tipping criminals. The Conservative Mayor of Croydon has let them get away with it for too long. Under his watch, we have become the fly-tipping capital of the country. It’s a shocking and unhygienic disgrace and it’s got to stop.”