Body camera plan to halt fly-tipping

Body camera plan to halt fly-tipping

23 October 2019

NEWRY, Mourne and Down Council enforcement staff could be armed with body cameras in a bid to help address the district’s dog fouling and fly-tipping issues.

The move — along with using CCTV cameras to help identify offenders — is currently being examined by local authority officials.

Plans have been outlined to spearhead a more strategic and co-ordinated response to enforcement with council investigations into the feasibility of enforcement staff wearing body cams to help catch offenders and issue fixed penalty notices ongoing.

Earlier this year, an enforcement action plan to tackle the problem was agreed by the local authority which is also working with the Dogs Trust to promote responsible pet ownership across the district to reduce dog fouling.

Council officials are also working with the Environment Agency and are keen to get on top of the fly-tipping issue in particular which costs ratepayers hundreds of thousands of pounds to deal with.

An update on implementing the action plan will be outlined at today’s meeting of the local authority’s Neighbourhood Services Committee.

Plans are also in the pipeline to develop an education programme to be rolled out across the district’s schools highlighting the health and environmental hazards of dog fouling, littering and fly-tipping.

Elected representatives have been inundated with complaints from ratepayers in towns and villages about fly tipping and dog fouling issues which they are keen to get on top of, given the negative publicity it has for an area which relives heavily on tourism in particular.

The focus on potentially using body cams and CCTV to apprehend offenders, paving the way for greater enforcement activity, beefing up existing legislation and working with other bodies to examine how they deal with the problem, has been welcomed by politicians.

Recently, several councillors highlighted the disparity between the number of enforcement fines handed out for dog fouling and fly tipping in the Newry, Mourne and Down area, compared to neighbouring Ards and North Down Council.

They say that they recognise the scale of both problems is such that they need to explore all possible options to deal with them. 

While some advocate “naming and shaming” offenders, council officials are seeking legal advice on such an option and any implications such a move would have on data protection legislation.

Rowallane councillor, Billy Walker, who has regularly highlighted dog fouling and fly-tipping issues, has welcomed the new action plan.

He said everyone has a responsibility and a duty of care to make sure their rubbish doesn’t end up being illegally dumped and to clean up after their pets.

“While most people dispose of their waste properly and clean the mess that their pets create,  there are many who don’t, caring little for the environment or the district’s appearance,” he declared.

“We have talked about these issues for a long time and what now is required is affirmative action so those who blatantly disregard the law are made accountable. This behaviour must stop. There is simply no excuse for it.”

Cllr Walker said people who fly-tip and allow their pets to use footpaths and parkland as open air toilets need to “feel the full force of the law”, insisting that such behaviour can no longer be tolerated.