21 Peterborough fly-tipping prosecutions under consideration

The authority has identified 21 cases which it has left with its legal services team to determine what the next stage of the process should be.

The team will decide whether to seek prosecution through the courts.

If legal proceedings are instigated magistrates have the powers to fine convicted fly-tippers up to £50,000 and imprison them for up to a year.

The offence can also attract an unlimited fine and up to five years in prison if an offender is convicted in a crown court.

Clamping down on fly-tipping is a priority in Peterborough

The Peterborough Telegraph recently revealed that from April 1 to December 31 last year 88 people were slapped with Fixed Penalty Notices of £400 with residents able to be charged for “breaching their duty of care” when disposing of household waste.

The council introduced seven new covert cameras in the city from December at a cost of £9,025 to help catch fly-tippers in action.

The authority said the locations of the cameras are not fixed and can be changed.

None of the 21 potential prosecutions are linked to the use of covert cameras.

Asked if it likely that more will be bought in the future, a council spokesperson said: “We are awaiting more detailed results of the cameras that have already been deployed before making a decision to purchase more.”