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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the efficacy of fast-tracking the conviction and sentencing of fly-tipping offenders, in order to enable them to be required to remove the waste, dispose of it legally, and repair any damage they have caused.

Certain cases can be fast-tracked through the courts in agreement between the prosecuting agency and the local Judicial Business Group. Convicted offenders can be subject to a range of sentences, including community sentences which may involve waste clearance work.

The National Fly-tipping Prevention Group provides advice and guidance on measures people can take to prevent fly-tipping. Illegally dumped waste should be reported to the local authority, then cleared swiftly so others do not add to it, rather than waiting until the offenders are prosecuted and sentenced. Local authorities should then investigate fly-tipping, and prosecute the fly-tippers where there is sufficient evidence. A cost order can be made by the court so that the clearance costs can be recovered retrospectively.

As well as tightening up the sentencing guideline for environmental offences in 2014, last year we gave local authorities the power to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for small-scale fly-tipping to assist them to take proportionate and prompt enforcement action.