Croydon residents asked to identify fly-tippers on CCTV

By Hiyastar News Desk

Croydon residents are being asked to help identify suspected fly-tippers after the council published CCTV clips of offenders dumping rubbish across the borough.

The footage has been placed on a dedicated “Caught on Camera” page as part of Executive Mayor Jason Perry’s zero-tolerance campaign on environmental crime. Residents who recognise anyone in the clips are being urged to contact Croydon Council so enforcement officers can follow up.

The move gives local people a direct role in tackling dumped waste on streets, high roads and neighbourhood corners where fly-tipping has become a visible source of frustration. It follows a recent case in Thornton Heath where resident evidence led to a fixed penalty notice being issued and paid.

CCTV clips put public pressure on fly-tippers

Croydon Council says the new online page shows fly-tippers caught in the act, creating what the authority describes as a public gallery of offenders damaging local neighbourhoods.

The council is asking residents to watch the clips and report information if they recognise a person, vehicle or incident. The campaign is aimed at turning local evidence into enforcement action, particularly where dumped rubbish can be linked to a vehicle owner or identifiable suspect.

Fly-tipping can leave pavements blocked, attract further dumping and increase clean-up costs for local services. For residents, the impact is often immediate: bags, furniture, trade waste or household rubbish left outside homes, shops or community spaces.

The council’s approach also reflects a wider trend in local enforcement, where doorbell cameras, mobile phone footage and dashcam clips are becoming more important in identifying offenders. Similar councils have used public evidence in waste cases, including appeals for residents to help trace fly-tipping suspects.

Thornton Heath fine followed resident footage

The council highlighted a recent Thornton Heath case as an example of how resident reports can lead to penalties.

A local resident filmed rubbish being illegally dumped and shared the footage on social media. After the video was passed to Executive Mayor Jason Perry, he sent it to the Council enforcement team.

Officers traced the vehicle owner and issued a £400 fixed penalty notice. Croydon Council said the fine has since been paid.

That case is now being used to encourage more residents to share evidence when they see fly-tipping taking place. The council is asking people to report offenders, provide footage where available and help identify those shown in the CCTV clips.

Residents in Thornton Heath have also seen other council action linked to local nuisance complaints, including enforcement around a problem site in the area.

Mayor says residents are fed up with dumping

Executive Mayor Jason Perry said residents had made clear that they wanted fly-tipping to stop and were willing to help the council act.

“Residents are rightly fed-up with people treating our streets like a dumping ground and so am I,” he said.

He said the Thornton Heath case showed what could happen when residents and the council worked together. “Someone thought they could dump rubbish on one of our high streets and get away with it. They were caught, traced and fined,” he said.

Perry said he had written personally to thank the resident who provided the footage, saying the person had taken pride in their neighbourhood and helped the council take action.

Reports and evidence now central to enforcement

The council is asking residents to use the Caught on Camera page to view the CCTV footage and check whether they recognise anyone shown.

People who witness fly-tipping are being encouraged to report it with as much detail as possible. Useful information may include the location, time, vehicle registration, description of the waste and any video or photo evidence gathered safely.

The council has framed the campaign as part of a wider zero-tolerance approach to environmental crime. Perry said the slogan was backed by enforcement action.

“If you fly-tip in Croydon and you are caught, you will be pursued and you will be fined,” he said.

Source: Croydon Council