People warned not to hunt down fly-tippers

People have been urged not to take the law into their own hands and hunt down those guilty of fly-tipping.

Shropshire Council has acted after local residents searched waste sites to find names and addresses, before sharing the information online or visiting the addresses to confront those they think are responsible.

They have now been warned that removing evidence compromises investigations and prosecutions - incidents of which are on the rise.

The authority has also said criminal gangs were sometimes responsible and waste-vigilantes could be putting themselves at risk.

The council said items commonly removed included letters, packaging, and other documents - items that would otherwise be used to bring criminal cases.

While it was understandable people are frustrated by fly-tipping, it said the dumped rubbish should be treated as a crime scene and left alone.

"The public's most valuable role is to report incidents promptly, ideally with photographs," it said.

David Vasmer, the Shropshire councillor responsible for highways and waste, said: "When evidence is removed or shared online, it can completely undermine our investigations and allow offenders to go unpunished."

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