Fly-tipping not being prosecuted

SHOCKING figures have revealed despite there being nearly 6,000 incidents of fly-tipping in North Wales last year, there were only three prosecutions – and none in Gwynedd.

In 2016/17 there were 5,975 number of recorded fly-tipping incidents in the region but less than a handful of offenders were prosecuted.

After finding out only 69 prosecutions were made for fly-tipping in the whole of Wales during the same period, Janet Finch-Saunders AM said: “These figures speak for themselves. Welsh local authorities just cannot successfully prosecute fly-tipping offenders.”

She continued: “For obvious reasons, prosecuting fly-tipping offenders is extremely difficult, therefore it is incumbent on local authorities to take measures which will not exacerbate the Wales wide problem.”

Wrexham, Gwynedd, Flintshire and Anglesey local authorities recorded 4,624 fly-tipping incidents but there wasn’t a single prosecution.

Gwynedd defended themselves saying fly-tipping is often dealt with littering fixed penalties rather than prosecution.

A Gwynedd Council spokeswoman said: “Historically, fly-tipping incidents in Gwynedd tend to be mainly small scale, which can often be dealt with littering fixed penalties rather than prosecution.

“The Welsh Government has recently introduced new legislation which gives Councils powers to issue a specific fixed penalty of up to £400 for minor fly-tipping.

“The aim, which reflects the Welsh Government’s Strategy “A Fly-tipping Free Wales”, is to simplify the enforcement process and make it easier for Councils to penalise offenders.

“In the case of low level tipping the net effect of this is likely to be more fixed penalty fines and fewer prosecutions.”