The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Fly-tippers are getting away with it
Hundreds of cases but just one conviction,
Fly-tippers are going unpunished for spoiling the north-east’s scenic landscapes, new figures have revealed.
The shock statistics, released by the Tories, revealed that in Aberdeenshire only one person has been convicted in the courts since 2005, despite 600 reports last year alone.
Aberdeenshire Council has said that many of these are duplicates and has also said there have been 600 duty of care enforcement letters issued since 2005.
The figures have prompted calls for more “robust” rules to be introduced to ensure the region’s natural environment is better protected.
Currently, perpetrators can be prosecuted under environmental protection legislation and can also be given a fine through antisocial behaviour laws.
However, the majority of the cases the authority has dealt with have resulted in enforcement notices or warnings.
Over the past 13 years, only four reports have been submitted to the procurator fiscal. Two made it to court. One resulted in a fine and another was not proven.
There have been a number of incidents of illegal dumping in the north-east in recent months.
In July, there was outrage after waste - including a car - was discovered at beauty spot Stirling Hill, near Boddam.
And there was anger after piles of waste, including food wrappers, cardboard boxes and black bags, were left strewn near a track at Blackhills outside Peterhead.
Alexander Burnett, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MSP, first became aware of the issue after his constituents raised concerns about unauthorised dumping at the car park at Mulloch Wood, near Banchory.
Mr Burnett has called on the Scottish Government to overhaul the legislation to ensure the courts are better equipped to clamp down on the problem.
“The council does all it can to crack down on this behaviour, but this is a crime that is notoriously difficult to prosecute,” he said.
“These figures illustrate how rare it is for someone to be punished in the courts for illegal dumping.
“The Scottish Government should be reviewing to make sure that the legislation as it stands is robust enough to deal effectively with this problem, which is a blight on our beautiful countryside.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Scottish Government supports action to deter people from flytipping which is an illegal, selfish and wholly unnecessary activity.”