Pet cages, kitchen cupboards and car tyres have been dumped
(Picture: Westminster City Council)Rubbish dumpers in Westminster are being caught on newly-installed cameras and could be fined or charged, as the council cracks down on an “influx” in fly-tipping.
Waste including toilets, furniture and even a kitchen sink - as well as brand new televisions - has been discovered across the London borough since 2018.
CCTV cameras are being trialled in three hotspot areas targeted by fly-tippers.
The cameras use artificial intelligence (AI) to identify suspected fly-tippers and the information is sent to be reviewed by City Inspectors, Westminster City Council said on Friday.
If fly-tipping has been identified, the driver’s details will be requested from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and offenders could face a fixed penalty notice or criminal proceedings.
If successful, the cameras will be rolled out in other parts of Westminster, the council said.
The crackdown comes after a “significant influx” in fly-tipping around the borough since 2018, with more than 1,700 offences being recorded in 2022/23.
In one hotspot, there were 192 events recorded in the past year.
Rubbish such as furniture, white goods, toilets and even kitchen sinks have been dumped.
Surprisingly, unopened items such as flat-screen TVs and shoes in their packaging have also been discovered.
Other examples include old pet cages, kitchen cupboards and car tyres, but the most common example of fly-tipping is commercial waste.
The council said it is working with local businesses and residents, encouraging them to organise collections for bulky waste.
Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Cabinet Member for City Management and Air Quality, said:“We want to stamp out this disgraceful behaviour of abandoning household waste, soiled mattresses and building materials on the street.
“This ingenious technology will catch people out red handed to ensure they don’t do it again.”
