Flytipping across Hertfordshire has “probably” reduced after a crackdown across the county.

In the past year, since April 2017, 35 people have been prosecuted for fly tipping.

More than 100 fixed penalty notices – of £300 – have also been issued.

And last month (March 2018) the Hertfordshire Fly Tipping Group launched the SCRAP campaign, to cut illegal dumping further.

Speaking at Hertfordshire County Council’s Community Safety and Waste Management Cabinet Panel, on Friday, Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd said there had been “some success” in this area.

He said the cross agency approach of the campaign – which brings together police, councils,  the Environment Agency, Herts Fire and Rescue, the National Farmers Union and Keep Britain Tidy –  has made it easier for residents to report incidents of fly tipping.

Residents no longer needed to know exactly who to report fly tipping to, for action to be taken, he said. Now whichever organisation they ring will make sure it is properly reported.

“When I took over there was an assumption that if a member of public rang up they needed to find the right person to speak to, ” said Mr Lloyd.

“I encouraged a lot of work cross agency so that you phone in once and it is reported properly.

“The public need to know that we care about it. I think to some extent the more the public knows we care about something, the more likely they are to report it.”

Committee chairman Cllr Terry Hone welcomed the support of the Police and Crime Commissioner, who told the committee it was his intention that some of the Proceeds of Crime funding would be used to clear up after incidents of fly tipping.

However councillor Paul Zukowskyj warned that it was too early to rate the success of the scheme.

“We shouldn’t be congratulating ourselves just yet,” he said. “We need to keep our attention on this and keep it going in the right direction.”

As part of the campaign residents and businesses are encouraged to follow the SCRAP code.

The code asks them to: SUSPECT all waste carriers; CHECK the waste carrier’s registration details; REFUSE unsolicited offers to take rubbish away; ASK what will happen to the rubbish; obtain PAPERWORK.

More information about the campaign can be found at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/flytipping