Local councils reported increases in fly tipping during the first Covid-19 lockdown when refuse collection services were limited and rubbish tips were closed altogether. As a result, the government has asked councils to prioritise taking action against fly tipping. Currently, the penalties for fly tipping include a fine of up to £50,000 or jail time if convicted in a Magistrate’s Court. For those who are convicted in a Crown Court, the fine is unlimited, and jail time could reach as much as five years. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be enough to dissuade some headstrong opportunists, who will often have charged unsuspecting customers for the removal of their waste, only to dump it illegally.
If you need to prevent fly tipping from taking place on your land or premises, then by investing in a virtual guard system, as well as following these security tips, you can assist in putting an end to this unauthorised activity.
Introducing The Virtual Guard System
Many property or landowners don’t have the budget for a 24/7 manned security guard to patrol their sites. For those who do, a security guard does have limitations when it comes to factors such as the weather or illness. A superior solution is to invest in a virtual guard system. By placing wireless video verification alarms in strategic locations around your site, the cameras can then be armed and disarmed on a schedule that suits you.
Your site will be under the surveillance of professional security guards who are located at our remote monitoring station. We can react in real-time to any fly tipping as well as any other security events or disturbances which are taking place. By dispatching trained SIA responders to your site within a matter of minutes, any opportunist fly tippers will be stopped in their tracks and can be dealt with by the police who will also be in attendance.
Spotting Vulnerabilities In Your Security
However, before reaching this point, there are multiple security steps you can take to dissuade fly tippers from considering dumping their rubbish with you in the first place. You should begin by conducting an in-depth tour of your site, starting at the perimeter, to identify any vulnerabilities in your set-up.
Securing Your Perimeter
Usually, fly-tippers will need to drive a vehicle onto your premises to begin unloading, so blocking access points should be your first job. Concrete blocks can prevent vehicles from proceeding. Fencing should be tall and difficult to climb over; ideally, it would have a top section which protrudes. A height of at least 2.1 metres is usually recommended, but you should check with your local planning office to see if there are any restrictions in place for your site.
Installing Floodlighting
Sites which offer floodlighting are far less likely to be targeted in the middle of the night. LED lighting offers an eco-friendly security solution which is also a low-cost strategy. You should avoid lighting attached to bollards as it can easily be tampered with by vandals. Instead, install your lighting out of reach by mounting it high up on your building or in trees. From this distance, the face of any fly tipper will be clearly illuminated.
To discuss protection from fly tipping in more detail, our security professionals would love to help. Contact Sicuro to schedule a FREE consultation today.
