Covert camera to trap fly-tippers

The council spends thousands of pounds clearing rubbish

Hidden cameras are being deployed in parts of Teesside to catch fly-tippers in the act.

The hi-tech fight has been launched by Hartlepool Council which says thousands of pounds is wasted clearing up the mess caused by people dumping rubbish.

The cameras, which can be used in the dark, are controlled by mobile phone technology and the pictures beamed back and recorded on a computer.

The images can then be used as evidence in a prosecution against the tippers.

Craig Thelwell, the council's environmental action manager, said: "A lot takes place at night and when it is quiet... and without sufficient evidence to take them to court it is very difficult to get a prosecution."

Indisputable evidence

The council has nine cameras and can site four at any one time.

The units have their own battery pack and can record for up to three or four days. They can be activated by movement and remotely controlled to follow something happening off shot.

Mr Thelwell said: "We can send an enforcement officer to the site, but when officers are not around, we have direct links to the DVLA and can find out who the vehicle belongs to and take our investigations from there.

"The images can be used in court as evidence and it is very difficult to defend."