Forensic warning for fly tippers

Fly tipping is 'illegal and comes with severe punishments'

A team of investigators could soon start using forensic techniques to catch people who illegally dump rubbish on the streets of Merseyside.

Councils across the county have said it costs them more than £1m a year to deal with the problem of fly tipping.

A 2003 survey showed councils in the North West received 33,000 complaints a year, said Keep Britain Tidy.

Investigators scouring areas like parks for rubbish could use scrutinising methods such as fingerprinting.

Jo Whitaker, regional director of Keep Britain Tidy, said: "Fly tipping is illegal and like any other crime comes with a punishment.

It amazes me the lengths some people go to dump their junk Jo Whitaker, Keep Britain Tidy

"Anyone caught breaching the law when it comes to getting rid of unwanted items can face a £50,000 fine or five years in prison."

She said culprits leave clues which can prove where the items originally came from, who the owners might be and who dumped them, when moving things from place to place.

"It amazes me the lengths some people go to dump their junk especially when there are legal tip sites that will take their cast-offs - and even services that will go and collect it from them free of charge," she said.

"People on Merseyside need to wake up and realise that fly tipping is illegal and comes with severe punishments."