Fly-tipping fines raise just £3,000 in first year

A council has raised just £3,000 since it introduced a higher maximum penalty for fly-tipping, it has been revealed.

In September last year, Bradford Council increased the maximum fine that could be given to fly-tippers from £400 to £1,000.

Since then, six fines of £1,000 have been issued for the offence, with just three of those fines paid so far.

At a meeting of Bradford Council's Shipley Area Committee on Wednesday, members were told work was being done to tackle issues including fly-tipping, littering and dog fouling.

From September, the maximum Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for fly-tipping in England will increase from £1,000 to £5,000.

A report presented to councillors stated that would give local authorities "more flexibility to set fines that reflect how serious the offence is".

"Prosecution will still be considered for the most serious cases or where offenders repeatedly fly-tip," it added.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the increased fines on 20 August while visiting one of the country's largest illegal dump sites, on Midland Road in Bradford.

Earlier this week, Bradford Council voted to reopen Sugden End Household Waste Recycling Centre near Keighley after it was closed by the previous Labour-run administration in 2024 as part of cost-saving measures.

The report also explained the current levels of FPNs for fly-tipping, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"The current penalties are £1,000 for the most serious offences, £400 for medium-level offences, reduced to £300 for early payment, and £150 for minor offences, such as fly-tipping a single item," it said.

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