Over 500 cases of environmental crime investigated by NNC

24 February 2022

North Northamptonshire Council (NNC)’s waste enforcement team investigated over 500 cases of environmental crime between July and December 2021.

NNC’s Waste team put a significant amount of work into the street cleansing service but, unfortunately, the roads and streets across North Northants still suffer the blight of litter and fly tipping which the teams investigate and clear up.

The activity between July and December 2021 resulted in NNC:

• Issuing 256 Warning Notices
• Issuing 33 fixed penalty notices for fly tipping or for duty of care issues relating to material that went on to be fly tipped.
• Referred 23 cases onward for prosecution at Magistrates Court.

NNC still have more than 50 live investigations which may yet result in further prosecutions.

It is a vital part of our work to detect and deter the selfish and thoughtless actions of those who are causing a negative impact on our local communities by committing littering, fly tipping offences or abandoning old vehicles, leaving them for us to clear up. It is Anti-Social behaviour and we will treat it as such.

The council has a wide range of tools we can use to promote responsible behaviour and where an offence has been committed, our teams will investigate thoroughly and provide offenders an opportunity to discuss the individual circumstances of each case and take the most appropriate enforcement action depending upon the circumstances.

I do want to take this opportunity to thank the local Wombles groups for their efforts, however. They have made a real difference to the areas they have targeted and it is appreciated.Cllr Graham Lawman, NNC’s Executive Member for Highways, Travel and Assets

The Waste team also led a Community Clean-Up in the Queensway area of Wellingborough in October 2021, alongside partners including Northants Police, Greatwell Homes and local community groups and supported by FCC Environment, which resulted in 14 tonnes of waste being removed. This included 1.5 tonnes of metal, 16 fridges and 19 tyres. 

Prior to the event, NNC wrote to all residents in the local area promoting the event and that any waste presented would be collected, including furniture, white goods and household items. The letter also reiterated the council’s zero tolerance approach and, since the Clean-Up event, 16 Warning Notices and 1 Fixed Penalty Notice have been issued to residents in the area. Officers continue to patrol the area and are on hand to offer advice to anyone who needs it.

North Northamptonshire Council operates a zero-tolerance policy in relation to any incidents of environmental crime and Officers will actively investigate any cases. Anyone can report an incident and please do provide as much detail as possible to help us with our investigations.Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of NNC

Anyone witnessing an offence can report it by contacting us at [email protected]