Perth and Kinross Council staff were yesterday trying out new surveillance equipment they have purchased to catch and deter fly-tippers in future.
The mobile CCTV camera can be deployed in rural locations where fly-tippers are known to dump their rubbish with footage streamed to mobile devices or laptops.
Anyone caught in the act can face anything from a fixed financial penalty of £200 to a fine of up to £40,000.
Councillor Angus Forbes, convener of the local authority’s environment and infrastructure committee, visited the Lade in Perth’s Tulloch district yesterday to see the camera in operation.
He remarked: “Fly-tipping is a blight on the environment that we are determined to tackle.
“It threatens wildlife and livestock and cleaning up the mess left behind by fly-tippers costs the council and private landowners thousands of pounds each year.
“Fly-tippers choose isolated rural locations because it reduces the chances of them being seen. However, with CCTV cameras like these they may end up getting caught in the act – and showing the evidence necessary to convict them.”
Councillor Forbes added: “Fly-tipping is a crime and those found responsible face stiff penalties.
“I’d like to remind everyone that your waste is your responsibility – if you hire someone to remove waste and they dump it then it could be you than ends up paying the penalty.
“Make sure anyone you hire to do such work is registered with SEPA so you know they are a legitimate business.”
The CCTV camera was purchased from Perth-based security system installer Scottish Communications.
Director Stuart Leslie said: “We were delighted to be selected by PKC to design a solution to live monitor areas of our countryside plagued by fly-tipping.
“Using the latest technology to provide high-definition live and recorded images from remote locations will be a powerful tool for the environmental services to combat these crimes.”
