Crime Solicitors

Islington Council in north London has handed out four fixed penalty notices for fly tipping, in an ongoing crackdown on environmental crime.

The first fixed penalty notice (FPN) was issued after cans of cooking oil were dumped in St Albans Place at the Angel. A local business – angel.london Business Improvement District – contacted the council, which used CCTV to help identify the owner of a van used in the fly tipping.

The council issued two other Fixed Penalty Notices relating to builders' waste left in Berry Street, London EC1 , following an investigation by council officers.

A fourth fixed penalty notice was issued after waste from a building refurbishment was fly tipped near Chapel Market in central Islington.

All four £400 fixed penalty notices – which are reduced to £200 if settled within ten days – were issued in October and have been paid, the council says.

Islington Council's Executive Member for environment and transport, Cllr Claudia Webbe, said:

“Most people who live and work in Islington take great pride in our borough.

“However, fly tipping – which is selfish, unsightly and dangerous – is still a problem. Islington deserves better – and that's why we became one of the first places in the country to issue fixed penalty notices for fly tipping.

“These fixed penalty notices clearly show fly tipping in Islington risks swift action and a hefty on-the-spot fine.”

Chief executive of angel.london, Christine Lovett, added:

“This fine very clearly sends out a message that we will not tolerate dumping or fly-tipping at the Angel.

“Businesses can have confidence that when they report things, we take them seriously and deal with it – the regular dumping of full oil cans was the scourge of businesses behind Upper Street for a year.

“Working closely with Islington Council, angel.london police team and the council's CCTV operators has achieved so much – even if criminals are outside of the Angel, our CCTV enables us to pursue and prosecute them.”

FPNs are one of a number of ways that Islington Council tackles fly tipping –
others include educational programmes, and high visibility and covert patrols.

In serious and persistent cases of fly tipping, the council says it will continue to take court action, where appropriate, which can result in much larger fines.

Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors

Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors can advise companies and individuals at any stage of an environmental offence, including charges relating to polluting watercourses, fisheries offences, fly tipping, waste carrier offences, failing to manage hazardous waste, air pollution, noise pollution, or misuse of permitted land.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across England and Wales, with more than 20 offices across London and the southeast – a Duncan Lewis criminal defence solicitor can advise at the start of an investigation by the Environment Agency or local authority and before charges are brought.

For expert legal advice on all environmental offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors on 0333 772 0409.