Hart District Council has stepped up the fight against fly-tipping and environmental crime during Rural Crime Action Week last week by targeting commercial vehicles in a joint enforcement operation.
Together with the Police, Environment Agency, HMRC, and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, drivers were stopped along the A30 near Hartley Wintney on Thursday 11 September.
Officers carried out rigorous checks to ensure drivers held waste carrier licences or valid scrap licences and were compliant with environmental legislation. Investigations will continue into those who were not able to show the correct documentation to ensure they are operating properly.
Councillor Tina Collins, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Regulatory Services, said: “Fly-tipping is not a victimless crime. It blights rural landscapes, threatens wildlife and leaves councils – and ultimately residents – to foot the bill for clean-up costs.
"This operation sends a clear message – if you flout the law, you will be caught. By working together, we are holding offenders to account and protecting our community."
Fly-tipping offenders face an unlimited fine or even a prison sentence. Residents also have a crucial role to play.
By checking whether waste carriers are properly registered before handing over rubbish, the public can help stop criminal dumping before it starts. You can easily verify if someone is a registered waste carrier by checking their name or licence number details at www.hants.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling/flytipping.
Anyone who witnesses fly-tipping is urged to report it immediately by calling 01252 622122 or using the Council’s online portal: https://hart.fixmystreet.com. Please include details of the location, vehicle registration, and a description of the incident.