Barnet fly-tipping pilot issues £42,500 in fines
A seven-month trial using CCTV and community safety officers resulted in fines for individuals and businesses dumping waste.
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A seven-month pilot project in Barnet aimed at deterring fly-tipping has generated over £40,000 in penalties. The initiative, which ran from April to October 2026, saw Community Safety Team (CST) officers and the CCTV Control Room identify and issue fines to individuals and businesses caught dumping bulky waste in public areas.
A total of £42,500 in fines was levied during the trial period, with more than £13,000 of this amount already collected, according to figures reported by Ham & High, This Is Local London, and Times Series. The project is part of Barnet Council's broader 'find and fine' campaign, which began last year.
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CCTV network's impact
Councillor Sara Conway, cabinet member for community safety, stated that the council's enhanced CCTV network is proving effective against fly-tipping. "The latest figures show that our new and improved CCTV network is having a real impact against the scourge of fly-tipping," Councillor Conway said, as reported by the publications. She noted that perpetrators were observed dumping household items next to commercial bins, which, while potentially seen as an alternative to green spaces, still constitutes illegal dumping.
Under the pilot's operational framework, CST officers reviewed live CCTV footage to pinpoint offenders. These individuals were subsequently issued with fines, set at £500 for a first offence and £600 for a second. The project's surveillance capabilities were bolstered by the deployment of 27 new redeployable cameras, supplementing the borough's existing network of 900 static cameras.
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Continued operation and resident reporting
Councillor Alan Schneiderman, cabinet member for environment, highlighted that fly-tipping is a frequent concern raised by councillors. "Fly-tipping is one of the topics that is consistently at the top of councillors’ inboxes and now is the time to dump the dumpers and take action to stop fly-tipping in Barnet," he said, as reported by the news outlets. He also urged residents to report any instances of fly-tipping or provide information through the council's web portal.
The pilot scheme is scheduled to continue for the remainder of the current financial year. Barnet Council plans to install additional cameras before the end of the year to further support the initiative.
Questions this report answers
+How much in fines has the Barnet fly-tipping pilot project issued?
The pilot project in Barnet has issued a total of £42,500 in fines. This amount was generated between April and October 2026 by Community Safety Team officers and CCTV monitoring of individuals and businesses caught dumping waste.
+What was the duration of the Barnet fly-tipping pilot project?
The pilot project ran for a period of seven months, from April 2026 to October 2026. It aimed to target fly-tippers using a combination of CCTV surveillance and the work of Community Safety Team officers.
+How much has been paid towards the fly-tipping fines in Barnet?
More than £13,000 of the £42,500 in fines issued during the Barnet fly-tipping pilot project has already been paid. The scheme ran from April to October 2026 and involved issuing penalties for illegal dumping.
+What are the fine amounts for fly-tipping in Barnet under this scheme?
Under the pilot project, fines for fly-tipping in Barnet were set at £500 for a first offence. If an individual or business committed a second offence, the fine increased to £600. The scheme ran from April to October 2026.
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