City cameras lead to prosecutions for environmental crimes as Wolverhampton residents warned against fly tipping
A city council has warned anyone thinking of fly tipping that they are being watched after CCTV evidence led to two successful prosecutions.
Wolverhampton Council said that cameras had captured incidents in two separate locations as the council continued its battle against the crime.
The first tip was filmed on April 27, 2024, when a van and accompanying car were driven onto land off Millfields Road at around 9.20pm, with a local security firm providing the footage to the council.
The drivers of the two vehicles each dumped a large quantity of waste from the van, including bulky furniture and household waste.
The van was unregistered, however the car was registered in Wolverhampton and insurance information identified Ricky Steadman, of Beaconsfield Avenue in Parkfields, as the only named driver.
Officers served a notice requiring Steadman to attend an interview at the Civic Centre to assist with the council’s investigation, although he failed to attend or contact the council, preventing officers from finding out who was responsible.
A prosecution was brought and Steadman was found guilty in his absence of one obstruction charge under section 110 of The Environment Act 1995 for failing to comply with investigating officers’ requests for assistance.
At Dudley Magistrates Court on Wednesday, August 13, Steadman was ordered to pay a fine of £440, victim surcharge of £176 and costs of £1,086.20.
In the second case, officers monitoring council CCTV discovered that car tyre casings were regularly being left close to a bin store at Weston Court in Boscobel Crescent, during late October last year.
Officers identified Weston Court resident Barry Wilkes, who used his door access key fob after dumping the tyres.
After being visited by tenancy officers from Wolverhampton Homes, Wilkes admitted the offences and accepted a Fixed Penalty Notice rather than a court appearance.
However, despite a payment extension period being agreed, no payment was made and Wilkes subsequently ignored council letters as well as a notice requiring him to attend the Civic Centre.
At a hearing at Dudley Magistrates Court on Wednesday, July 30, Wilkes pleaded guilty to one charge of fly tipping and one of obstructing an officer in the course of their duties.
For the charge of fly tipping, Wilkes was fined £120, a victim surcharge of £48 was imposed along with costs of £400. No separate penalty was imposed for the second charge.
All costs awarded to the council will be reinvested back into its environmental crime service.
Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at Wolverhampton Council, said: “Once again, we are issuing a warning to anyone thinking of using our city as their dumping ground.
“We are not going to stand by and watch as you ruin our streets, green spaces and residential areas.
“We’re working hard to tackle this thoughtless crime. We will use increased fines, our successful Shop a Tipper scheme and the city’s cameras will be watching you. You will not get away with it.”
