Havering, like many areas of the country, has suffered from a huge increase in incidences of fly-tipping, often on a organised and industrial scale, over the last few years. The cost to the public purse can run into the hundreds of thousands of pounds and the blight on both our communities and on the local environment caused by this criminal activity can be appalling.

However, despite being a growing issue across the country, the maximum fine available to the courts remains a derisory £50,000. And the maximum FPN that a local authority can issue is just £400.00 for smaller scale incidents.

Given that the illegal waste collection industry generates hundreds of thousands of pounds for these unscrupulous operators, these sums are inadequate, and the rising number of incidents indicates that they are failing to act as any sort of deterrent.

I therefore tabled a parliamentary question to ask if the government would consider increasing the level of fines which can be ordered from those found guilty of fly-tipping, and I shall continue to pursue this issue with the Environment Secretary.

Question:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the maximum fine available to courts and local authorities for fly-tipping from the current levels. (111026)

Tabled on: 02 November 2017

Answer:
Dr Thérèse Coffey:

The Sentencing Guideline for environmental offences was reviewed and strengthened in 2014. The maximum penalty on indictment for fly-tipping is imprisonment of up to five years or a potentially unlimited fine. The value of total fines handed down increased in 2016/17 and custodial sentences for fly-tipping increased by 56%. The Government will continue to provide information to the Sentencing Council as they monitor the impact of their guidance

The Government is committed to tackling fly-tipping at all levels. We have recently given local authorities the power to issue fixed penalty notices up to £400 for small scale fly-tipping and enhanced the local authorities and Environment Agency’s ability to search and seize vehicles of suspected fly-tippers.