£80 on-the-spot fine for fly-tippers and to end dog fouling in fresh crackdown across Walsall

3GS – Ethical Environmental Enforcement – will be patrolling the streets of Walsall from this week carrying out covert checks.

The same firm handed out £8,000 worth of fines in three weeks to more than 100 people when it was drafted in by Blackpool council last month.

The Basingstoke-based firm has been brought in for the next six months by Walsall Council at a projected net cost of £3,400.

As well as carrying out inconspicuous investigations officers will be providing a visible presence patrolling the streets, parks and open spaces.

They will have legal powers to stop anyone committing an environmental crime and will request their name, address and proof of identity.

Anyone refusing to be cooperative can be prosecuted under the Environmental Protection Act which can result in a £1,000 fine from magistrates.

Any footage capturing alleged offenders will be shared with police officers to identify culprits.

Councillor Chris Jones, responsible for Clean and Green on the authority, said: "We want people to understand that littering is a crime and shows a total disregard for the people of Walsall and the borough we live in.

"These new measures will act as a deterrent to anyone who thinks it's acceptable to commit these types of offences."

Earlier this month the council stated around 30 tons of rubbish were dumped in the borough every week costing in the region of £120,000 a year to clean it up.

Councillor Ian Shires added: "When we are being forced by the Westminster Government to slash a further £100 million from our budgets over the next four years the last thing we need is to be shelling out hundreds of thousands of pounds each year to clean up after folk who have no respect for the place in which they live."

Paul Buttivant, managing director of 3GS, said: "We'd like to reassure the community that only those who choose to ignore the law will be dealt with by our officers by way of a Fixed Penalty Notice."