FLY-TIPPING in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole was on the rise last year, new figures show.

Figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs show there were 2,840 fly-tipping incidents in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in the year to March 2023 – an increase of 44 per cent from 1,971 in 2021-22.

This meant there were 7.1 incidents per 1,000 people in the area.

In Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, most fly-tipped waste was discovered on highways, accounting for 99 per cent of recorded incidents.

The largest proportion of discarded waste was household waste, making up 85 per cent of all incidents.

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said: “It is time for the public and our justice system to say ‘enough is enough’ and tackle the selfish vandals who are trashing our environment for profit.

“The public can play their part by ensuring that they only give their unwanted ‘stuff’ to reputable, licensed waste carriers who will dispose of it correctly and the courts must help by using the considerable sentencing powers they have to order hefty fines and even jail ‘professional fly-tippers’ when they are caught.

“Environmental crime is not a victimless crime – we are all victims of it.”

The number of fixed penalty notices issued across the country fell from 91,000 in 2021-22 to 73,000 in 2022-23, but none of these were in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

While the average court fine increased by 13 per cent to £526, there were fewer fines given last year with a total value of £785,000 compared to £837,000 in the year before.

Darren Rodwell, environment spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said: “Fly-tipping is inexcusable. It is not only an eyesore for residents, but a serious public health risk, creating pollution and attracting rats and other vermin.”

Recycling minister Robbie Moore said: “Fly-tipped rubbish is a blight on the landscape, and a burden on councils to clean up – so it’s absolutely right for councils to take strong action whenever a crime is committed.

“We are making solid progress – with enforcement up by 6% and fly-tipping decreasing for the second year in a row – but we know there is more to do.”