Welsh Fly Tipper Receives Suspended Prison Sentence

Hand in hand with the increasing prevalence of fly tipping is the desire to penalise the perpetrators behind this crime. On August 7 the Port Talbot Guardian newspaper in Wales reported that a man caught dumping hundreds of tyres in Afan Valley has been given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay a £350 contribution towards the council’s costs.

David James was arrested in a joint operation between Environment Agency Wales and South Wales Police, on June 23, 2007, after he was caught on camera dumping up to 650 tyres at the South East Wales beauty spot. Agency officers set up hidden cameras and were assisted by an officer from South Wales Police who is on secondment to the Forestry Commission under the Forest Watch initiative.

“Recent changes in legislation has meant it is harder to hide from the consequences of this type of offending,” said Lyn Richards, team leader of Environmental Crime, Environment Agency Wales. “The growing support offered to the Environment Agency by South Wales Police also means that more and more offenders are being caught and brought to book…Tyre fly-tipping has become an increasing problem and this result sends a strong message that those flouting the law.”