Councils Call for Review of Fly-Tipping Fines as Court Penalties Fall Short

Local authorities in England are urging the government and Sentencing Council to review fly-tipping penalties after data revealed that court fines are, on average, lower than the fixed penalty notices (FPNs) councils can issue directly. The call comes as reported incidents of illegal waste dumping reach record levels.

Rising Fly-Tipping Incidents and Costs

In 2024/25, councils in England dealt with 1.26 million fly-tipping incidents, a 9% increase from the previous year [1]. These incidents cost local authorities over £19.3 million to clear up [1]. Larger-scale fly-tipping events, involving tipper lorry loads or more, accounted for 52,000 incidents, an 11% rise year-on-year [3].

The Sentencing Gap

Analysis shows the average court fine for fly-tipping is £539, which is £87 less than the average £626 FPN issued by councils [1], [3]. The Local Government Association (LGA) argues this disparity undermines deterrence and weakens enforcement efforts [1].

Case Examples Highlight Discrepancies

Several cases illustrate the gap between FPNs and court fines. In York, two offenders received fines of £300 each, despite initially being issued FPNs of £600 and £1,000 [1]. In Wiltshire, a fly-tipper who failed to pay a £1,000 FPN was fined only £80 after the case went to court [1]. Similarly, in Chelmsford, two offenders were fined £300 each after prosecution, lower than the £400 FPNs they had originally received [1].

LGA Calls for Action

Arooj Shah, Chair of the LGA Neighbourhoods Committee, stated that fly-tipping is a criminal activity that negatively impacts communities and costs taxpayers millions annually [4]. She emphasized the need for sentencing guidelines to be reviewed to ensure punishments are proportionate to the crime and reflect the resources dedicated to enforcement [4].

The LGA is urging the government and the Sentencing Council to address this issue promptly.