A multi-agency clampdown against fly-tipping and other offences yesterday (Tuesday) led to Croydon Council seizing its 31st van suspected of being used to illegally store or dump rubbish.
More than 30 officers from Croydon Council patrolled locations across the borough with counterparts from the Metropolitan Police, HM Revenue and Customs and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The operation ranged from fly-tip patrols in Thornton Heath to vehicle spot checks in Purley Way.
Council officers impounded the Ford Transit at around 3.30pm after spotting it parked on Pawsons Road in Thornton Heath with no number plates, and building waste and oil drums in the back. The council will now search for the registered owner, and if they do not come forward the van will be crushed.
Meanwhile, council environmental enforcement officers, police officers and DVSA staff pulled over 40 vans and lorries on Purley Way in Waddon to check drivers had full licences and insurance, were not carrying fly-tipped waste, and that their vehicle was roadworthy. One delivery driver’s vehicle was seized after DVSA officers found it had faulty brakes.
Part of the operation involved checks on 130 businesses to make sure they had the correct licence to dispose of business waste properly. Twenty-nine of these will now seek to increase their current waste contract with the council, while the rest had the correct contract for their business needs.
The operation also led to six people being issued with £80 fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping, while another 11 received parking tickets. Leaflets about the council’s growing time-banded waste collection policy were handed to local businesses and residents.
The joint operation is the sixth such event in 2017 as part of the council’s Don’t Mess With Croydon – Take Pride campaign, which combines enforcement with encouraging over 300 local volunteers to lead community clear-ups.
“This kind of operation is a good way for the council and our partners to clamp down on vehicles being driven illegally and to tackle fly-tippers who flout these kind of rules.
“I’m pleased our dedicated council officers have impounded their 31st van used for fly-tipping, as that makes it harder for criminals to blight our Croydon residents’ local environment.”
Councillor Stuart Collins, deputy leader – Clean Green Croydon
To report a fly-tip in Croydon, call the council via 020 8726 6200 or email flytip@croydon.gov.uk