Council calls for tougher sentences for fly-tippers

GATESHEAD Council has backed calls for tougher sentencing for fly-tippers with the local cleanup bill reaching over £400,000 a year.

- By AUSTEN SHAKESPEARE Local Democracy reporter [e-mail]

The council alongside the Local Government Association (LGA) are urging the government and Sentencing Council to bring court fines for fly-tippers closer in step to council fines, which in many cases are higher.

According to Gateshead Council the average court fine is £539, with the average council penalty notice standing at £626.

In a statement to the press, the LGA stated: "This sentencing gap undermines deterrence, weakens enforcement, and leaves councils out of pocket after time-consuming and costly prosecutions."