Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to increasing the fixed-penalty fine for fly-tipping to a maximum of £2,000.

Under the Prime Minister’s Anti-social Behaviour Action Plan, the Government recently raised the upper limit on the fixed penalty notices councils can issue to £1,000 for fly-tipping and £600 for householders who pass their waste to an unlicensed waste carrier. This reflects the increased severity with which the Government views these crimes and allows councils to take tougher action against fly-tippers.

We will continue to work with local authorities to assess the impacts of these changes. There are no plans to increase the fixed penalty levels further at this time.

Local authorities also have powers to stop, search and seize vehicles of suspected fly-tippers and to prosecute offenders, which can lead to an unlimited fine or imprisonment if convicted in court.