A trailer, transit van and recovery truck were left on the footpath and highway in Leicester Street in June with spilt oil and vehicle parts causing a safety risk for local residents and danger for motorists.

The trailer was left lying across the pavement, blocking access for pedestrians, and the recovery van had been left in the street with the partly dismantled transit van on the back of it. The transit van itself was full of waste.

On a separate occasion, tyres that had been stacked on the recovery van had fallen onto the pavement, causing a hazard for pedestrians, and gas bottles and fridges had been abandoned in the street.

Following complaints, officers from the council’s environmental crime team joined forces with St Peter’s, Park and Graiseley policing team to seize and investigate the vehicles.

No claimant came forward for the trailer and transit van, and the claimant for the recovery vehicle failed to provide the correct documentation. Therefore, the council took the decision to destroy them.

In addition, a tipper truck that had been witnessed fly tipping its load of mixed waste onto Manfield Road and Strawberry Lane in July this year will also be destroyed after being seized by council officers in partnership with Wednesfield and Heath Town neighbourhood team.

The action has been taken to prevent the vehicles from being used in future similar offences and to act as a warning to other offenders.

In cases such as this, if vehicles are sold, any proceeds left following seizure and storage costs would have to be returned to the keeper. This can mean money is given back to offenders. In addition, very often vehicles used in fly tipping incidents are already in a poor state and it would not be safe for the council to donate them.

Destroying vehicles is just one of the powers the council uses to fight this type of environmental crime, which impacts towns and cities across the country.

Earlier this year, an additional £257,146 was agreed to fund extra enforcement staff and security cameras to catch those who dump waste.

This adds to the variety of methods the council already uses in its ongoing attempts to tackle fly tipping, such as CCTV, prosecutions and £1,000 Fixed Penalty Notice fines. These initiatives run alongside the city’s ongoing Shop a Tipper campaign.

Councillor Qaiser Azeem, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “These vehicles had been used to fly tip a large amount of waste in our city, causing upset and safety concerns for residents.

“This type of behaviour is absolutely unacceptable and local people should not have to put up with it, which is why our team stepped in with police to seize the vehicles.

“The council has the power to seize, investigate and destroy vehicles that have been used to dump waste, and we’ve used those powers to send a very clear message to anyone considering this illegal behaviour.

“We’re proud of the money the council is investing and the dedicated work taking place to tackle environmental crime. Fly tipping causes distress to our residents and we will not stand by while criminals degrade our city.”

Under the city’s Shop a Tipper campaign, residents are encouraged to contact the council with information about fly tipping. If the information provided leads to successful identification, and FPNs are issued and paid or a prosecution takes place, residents receive a £100 Enjoy Wolverhampton Gift Card.

Residents can contact 01902 552700 or 555685 with information or report online at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/fly-tipping

Under the campaign, anyone suspected of dumping rubbish has their images shared to appeal for information to help identify them. The council also shares images online via its website and social media platform Nextdoor.

Residents are also reminded that waste can be disposed of free of charge at our Household Waste and Recycling Centres (tips) which are open 7 days a week from 8am – 4pm. Centres are at Anchor Lane, Bilston and Shaw Road, Wolverhampton.

A bulky item collection service to dispose of big unwanted items is also available, find out more at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste/book-bulky-item-collection