Fly Tippers Caught In The Act By Police Get Fined

Gurmit GREWAL, 44 years of Penn Meadow, Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire and Karmbir SINGH, 33 years of Catherine Gardens, Hounslow, Middlesex pleaded guilty and were convicted on Wednesday 11th June 2008, at Wycombe Magistrates Court for an offence of illegal dumping.

The court heard that on the evening of Tuesday 30th October 2007 GREWAL and SINGH were employees of REDSKY WHOLESALERS LIMITED, Wexham Road, Slough driving in a works van.  They had loaded up with waste items, including a metal staircase, a wooden cupboard and a metal cabinet, connected with that business. As they travelled along Rowley Lane, Iver, Buckinghamshire they decided to dump the items at the side of the road.  As they did this a marked Police vehicle with Roads Policing Officers based at Amersham drove by, saw the dumping and promptly arrested GREWAL and SINGH.

The Magistrates ordered GREWAL and SINGH each to pay £775 in fines, costs and victim surcharge.

As part of the investigation GREWAL and SINGH were conveyed to High Wycombe Police Station where they were interviewed by Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire Enforcement Officers whilst in custody.  Both were fully co-operative and admitted the offence.  

The case was prosecuted by Buckinghamshire County Council working on behalf of the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire.  The Waste Partnership launched the "Illegal Dumping Costs" campaign in November 2003 to combat illegal dumping and waste management related offences in Buckinghamshire.  Since this date the Partnership has secured 98 convictions against individuals and companies for illegal dumping and related offences.   This has resulted in the number of fly tipping incidents in Buckinghamshire being reduced by a third over the period.

If a person sees anyone dumping waste illegally in Buckinghamshire, they can report it on the illegal dumping reporting hotline on 0845 330 1856.

Councillor Martin Tett, Chairman of the Waste Committee for Buckinghamshire said, "The dumping location in this case was a remote and quiet country lane, typical of many such roads in Buckinghamshire.  No doubt this is why the two offenders picked this road and deliberately waited for darkness.  They must have been pretty shocked to see a marked Police vehicle suddenly arrive just as they were in the act of fly tipping.  However, this is not an isolated incident.  Marked and unmarked Police vehicles have witnessed many dumping incidents before and assisted in our fight against the fly tippers.  Let this serve as reminder to those who still carry on with this crime".

Bill Lidgate, Vice-chairman of the Waste Committee for Buckinghamshire and South Bucks District Council's Cabinet Member for Environment said,"Not only did a piece of routine patrolling of Buckinghamshire roads result in two arrests, but the Police assisted in this investigation to bring about a successful prosecution.  However it is not only making arrests that sees our Enforcement Officers overlapping with the Police when it comes to fly tipping investigations.  We carry out mobile waste carrier checks on vehicles with them, use Police Stations for interviews, have access to the Police National Computer and liaise with Police Intelligence Officers.  All of this has been set up in the recent years and we are grateful to the Police in helping us in this way to continue to tackle the scourge of illegal dumping".

Andrew Fowler, Country Parks Team Leader said,
"Fly tipping is a blight on the roads around the Country Parks which spoils the approach to these beautiful parks; the materials dumped are often hazardous and can cause injury to both humans and wildlife and can have a significant effect on the ecology of the sites.  The cost of clearing the dumped rubbish has to be borne by the Country Parks and has a direct impact on the management the Country Parks.  It is good to see individuals responsible for this illegal dumping prosecuted for their acts

Publication date: 24 June 2008