For private residents and large corporations, fly-tipping is a growing problem that many are unsure how to handle.

So, what must you do if you’re a victim of this crime?

To help you deal with fly-tipping on your land, this guide will take you through the ways you can handle fly-tipping and prevent it reoccurring.

The definition of fly-tipping

Essentially, fly-tipping — or ‘illegal dumping’ — is when someone leaves large amounts of waste material somewhere without obtaining permission or using authorised methods (e.g. kerb collections).

There are many items that can be defined under the banner of fly-tipping, including tyres, mattresses, beds, garden waste, bin bags filled with rubbish, and waste which has come from construction activities.

How often does fly-tipping happen in the UK today?

Worryingly, fly-tipping is a significant problem for the UK, with rises in the crime occurring all over the country.

According to a report by The Daily Telegraph (which came about as the result of a freedom of information request from ITV News), fly-tipping incidents have increased by over a 20% year-on-year across some council regions.

Almost 40,000 reported incidents were recorded in the North London district of Haringey between November 2015 and December 2016, while more than 30,000 incidents were also reported in Manchester over the same period.

Is the situation something we should all be concerned about? Apparently so.

Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton, stated that: “Fly-tipping is an epidemic, it's reached crisis levels and something needs to be done about it.

“Local authorities are overwhelmed with instances of criminal fly-tipping and we need to address this urgently."

What about the areas that seem to be successfully dealing with the issue? Even these regions are far from eradicating the problem.

For example, in Birmingham, the number of fly-tipping cases were down by 13% between November 2015 and December 2016.

However, the figure during this period was still recorded at 21,000 offences.

In Scotland, it appears that residents and land owners have an even greater problem with fly-tipping.

According to James Cuthbertson, an account executive at agriculture insurance specialists Lycetts, almost 61,000 fly-tipping incidents are recorded in this country every year.

He added: “The culprits tend to think of this practice as a victimless crime; but estimates put the cost to Scottish tax payers at £8.9 million a year to clear and dispose of tipped rubbish from council land.

Farmers and other countryside custodians must meet the cost of clearing rubbish from private land themselves, at an average of £1,000 a time.”

The crime statistics behind fly-tipping

Fly-tipping is not a mere inconvenience, it’s a crime. According to BBC figures, a total of 1,602 prosecutions for fly-tipping were carried out across England between 2016 and 2017.

What’s more, 98% of prosecutions resulted in a conviction. Also, during the same time period, councils across England served 56,000 fixed-penalty notices for fly-tipping.

Will the severity by which we deal with fly-tippers help to lower the numbers in the future?

Fly-tipping: what you must do if you’re a victim

As we mentioned earlier, many people have no idea what to do if they become a victim of fly-tipping. Here, we’ve compiled key advice to help.

The first factor you must be aware of is that you are responsible for clearing any fly-tipped waste if it appears on your land.

When you notice that you have been a victim of fly-tipping, you must try to determine whether the waste is safe or hazardous — don’t touch it if you believe it to be dangerous.

Never open bags and drums and leave piles of soil, as it could be contaminated or hiding dangerous material. It’s also worth noting that you must never approach someone who is fly-tipping on your land.

Instead immediately call 999 and then make a note the number of people involved, their appearances, and information about any vehicles used.

“In the event you wake one morning to find the midnight cowboys have paid you a visit, if the problem is severe, it is worth consulting with your insurance broker.

Most farm combined policies will cover the cost of removal and disposal, less an excess.

In the event of a major fly-tipping incident, you could be very glad the cover is in place,” said Mr Cuthbertson.

Although you’ll probably be eager to get rid of the rubbish, don’t. Get something to note down what has been dumped and keep a record of your actions.

This includes where you located it, as well as taking photographs. After all details have been recorded, report the case of fly-tipping to your local authority:

- Visit this GOV.UK page if you live in England or Wales.

- Report fly-tipping waste by either filling in an online form at www.DumbDumpers.org or contacting Stopline on 08452 30 40 90, if you live in Scotland.

- Head to www.nidirect.gov.uk if you’re a resident of Northern Ireland and find details for the local council.

Now, do your best to make sure members of the public cant interact with the fly-tipped waste. When it comes to removing it, do not take it to a licensed site yourself unless you’re registered as a waste carrier.

If hazardous waste has been identified, it should only be carried and disposed of by someone who is licensed to deal with it.

If someone else is getting rid of the waste for you, make sure to get appropriate documentation — it should include details about the waste and those who are taking it away — and keep all information about clearance and disposal costs safe.

These can be recovered in the event a successful prosecution is made against the crime committed.

How to ensure the safety of your land

There are ways you can try to avoid being a victim of fly-tipping, instead of simply clearing up the mess after it has happened.

Installing gates that are always closed and locked when not in use will help to restrict access to your property and its land, as will strategically placing physical barriers around the perimeter so that vehicles are unable to get through — think earth mounds, boulders and tree trunks placed closely to each other around your land.

Good visibility all around your private property is key to lowering your chances of fly-tipping occurring.

Make sure high-quality exterior lighting is installed and in working condition, and set up CCTV cameras and appropriate signs alerting people of the technology’s presence.

What happens to people who take part in fly-tipping?
Fortunately, fly-tipping is a crime that authorities treat with severity. Anyone who does it can receive an unlimited fine and up to five years imprisonment!

However, it is also important to note that those who permit fly-tipping to take place on their land or any land that they rent will also be committing a fly-tipping offence.