Six Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) have been issued to culprits of fly-tipping following the successful trial of a new mobile CCTV camera.
It was deployed on Charlotte Street at the beginning of August after rubbish was dumped on several occasions, causing concern for the local community. Since then, offenders identified from six occurrences have been fined £600 each for illegally dumping domestic waste.
Following this success, the Council has invested in 14 more deployable CCTV cameras, with four estimated to arrive at the end of November and the remaining 10 arriving in the new year. The cameras will strengthen the Council’s ability to respond to environmental crime and anti-social behaviour while providing reassurance to communities.
Unlike traditional fixed CCTV cameras, the new cameras can be moved between locations identified through intelligence, incident data and reports from residents, allowing the Council to respond quickly to emerging issues. They are equipped with pan, tilt and zoom functions, providing a good range of coverage.
The cameras will support the Council’s wider public realm CCTV network, linking into the Control Room and extending coverage to areas that would not be traditionally monitored through permanent CCTV cameras.
The investment forms part of a wider effort to strengthen the Council’s response to tackling environmental crime and anti-social behaviour. Following a recruitment campaign this year, seven new Public Protection Officers (PPOs) have joined the Council, increasing the team’s capacity to 14 full-time officers.
Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, Cabinet Member for Streetpride, Parks and Leisure, said:
The results from Charlotte Street show just how effective deployable CCTV can be in tackling fly-tipping, particularly in areas where fly-tipping has been reoccurring. With this new technology, we have been able to send a clear message that fly-tipping will not be tolerated in Derby.
The additional cameras will help us to respond quickly to areas across the city where issues are reported to us. They will allow us to gather evidence against those responsible and protect communities from the impact of illegally dumped waste. This is a practical investment that will strengthen our efforts to keep Derby clean and take action against environmental crime.
Councillor Sarah Chambers, Cabinet Member for Communities, Equalities and Public Safety, said:
The investment of 14 deployable CCTV cameras are an important addition towards our approach to community safety. By working alongside our Public Protection Officers (PPOs) and existing CCTV network, they will help to tackle anti-social behaviour and other issues that matter most to our communities.
This investment will also complement the recent expansion of our PPO team, strengthening our ability to respond to concerns and take targeted action, helping us to create a safer, more welcoming city for everyone.
Residents can report fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour through the Derby City Council website.