Spy-cams to Target Fly-tippers

High-tech spy cameras are to be employed by Basildon Council in the battle against fly-tipping. Council bosses have spent £12,000 on a new mobile CCTV camera capable of spotting criminals more than a mile away – in the dark.

The wireless camera will be deployed at dumping hotspots across the district in an effort to catch and prosecute fly-tippers. If the new scheme is a success, officials plan to buy an additional four cameras.

A Basildon Council spokesman said: “Fly-tipping is a serious environmental crime that costs taxpayers thousands of pounds each year. We are cracking down on illegal dumping by using new surveillance equipment to detect and deter criminals in the worst-hit places."

The spokesman pointed out that the majority of residents take pride in their surroundings and are outraged by selfish individuals who dump household and commercial waste. He stressed that the new camera will be a vital weapon in the fight against fly-tipping and that the Council will not hesitate to prosecute anyone who is caught. Under the Environmental Protection Act, anyone prosecuted for fly-tipping potentially faces a fine of up to £25,000.

Council officials plan to use the camera to tackle dumping at known hotspots but are keeping the precise locations secret. The spokesman noted that the cameras will be deployed in areas plagued by dumping, ranging from back alleys to country roads.

He said: “It is unfair for taxpayers to bear the cost of cleaning up after people who could have responsibly disposed of their rubbish using the services provided. This new camera should come as a warning to anyone who thinks they can use local towns and countryside as a dumping ground.”

The high-tech camera is able to capture the detailed images needed to secure evidence for prosecutions. It also has a built in sensor to detect movement and can record hours of footage as well as beaming live images back to operators at the Council’s offices. Officials plan to have the camera on the streets by early May.

See in the dark cameras triggered by motion sensors --- a good idea? Would the expenditure have been better used to detect anti-social behaviour by 'feral youth' that we worry about so much these days? Can we be sure that the cameras will be properly used --- after all, remote, quiet sites that may be attractive to fly-tippers could also be quite attractive to couples for other reasons. What are your thoughts? --- please let us know.