Fly-tipping is blighting our streets and countryside, with everything from old mattresses to broken TVs a common sight. Could slapping offenders with penalty points on their driving licence help stop the rot?
A former top Tory has suggested slapping penalty points on fly tippers’ driving licences in order to deter people from dumping and we want to know what you think.
From ditched old sofas and broken TVs to construction debris and household waste, the problem isn’t just an eyesore – it’s a major issue for communities across the UK. The mess left behind by this scourge on society creates a dangerous and unsanitary environment, often attracting pests and causing pollution.
Sadly, it’s not just the visible damage that’s concerning, but the long-lasting effects it has on wildlife and local ecosystems. Items like old mattresses can take years, if not decades, to decompose, leaking harmful chemicals into the soil and water.
It’s not a small problem, either. According to a recent survey by Keep Britain Tidy, more than 90 per cent of sites in England had rubbish scattered around.
And here’s a real shocker – one in five local authorities didn’t issue any fines for littering in 2021-22.
Which is why Baroness Warsi, the former chair of the Conservative Party, thinks adding penalty points to driving licences for people caught fly-tipping could be a game-changer.
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She points out that “part of the problem is not enough local authorities are prosecuting. People think that this is a crime where they’re not going to be caught.
The baroness believes it’s vital to “educate a new generation of the damage that littering and fly-tipping does to the environment, to wildlife, to plants.”
According to Keep Britain Tiday, more than a million fly-tipping incidents blighted our environment in 2022/23.
Chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton said: “It is time for the public and our justice system to say ‘enough is enough’ and tackle the selfish vandals who are trashing our environment for profit.
“The public can play their part by ensuring that they only give their unwanted ‘stuff’ to reputable, licensed waste carriers who will dispose of it correctly and the courts must help by using the considerable sentencing powers they have order hefty fines and even jail ‘professional fly-tippers’ when they are caught.
“Environmental crime is not a victimless crime – we are all victims of it.”
What do you think? Will slapping penalty points on driving licences help to discourage fly-tipping? Take our poll above and have your say in the comments.