Croydon fly-tipping: Bensham Manor tops list with 8,774 reports

Bensham Manor ward recorded 8,774 reported incidents of fly-tipping between January and July 2026, making it the area with the highest number of reports in Croydon. Brigstock Road was identified as the borough's worst-affected street, with 750 reported incidents during the same seven-month period. These figures were presented in papers ahead of Croydon Council's Streets and Environment Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on September 14.

Skewed figures and enforcement concerns

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Despite the high volume of reported incidents, Croydon Council issued only one fly-tipping fixed-penalty notice, a £1,000 fine, between April 2025 and March 2026. In the same period, the council submitted 319 environmental fixed-penalty notices in total. Local resident and activist Graham Mitchell suggested that the high reporting figures for Bensham Manor may be inflated. He pointed to the area's housing situation, including many rental properties and flats above shops, where residents use black bin bags for waste. These bags are often left at designated points on pavements, which Mitchell believes can be mistaken for fly-tipping and subsequently reported through the Love Clean Streets app, Croydon Council's preferred reporting tool.

Mitchell also stated that residents may not always know the correct times to leave waste bags out for collection. According to council guidance, if bags are put out too early before a scheduled collection, they can be reported as fly-tipping. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that this practice "inflates the numbers and fly-tipping begets fly-tipping."

Council response to reporting and enforcement

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Alasdair Stewart, Croydon Council's Cabinet Member for Streets and Enforcement, acknowledged that high reporting levels in wards like Bensham Manor "significantly distort" the fly-tipping figures. He indicated that a small number of individuals submit numerous reports, including duplicates and issues that are routine street cleaning matters rather than actual fly-tipping. Stewart stated that the council's "zero tolerance" approach is "not a slogan" and that reporting is made easy to encourage swift waste clearance. He added that the council pursues offenders where evidence allows and is enhancing enforcement through CCTV, patrols, and targeted action at known hotspots.

Mitchell expressed scepticism about the council's enforcement effectiveness, citing the low number of fly-tipping fines compared to other environmental penalties. He believes greater enforcement and clearer communication are needed to deter offenders and improve the borough's record. He also questioned the fairness of the council's "zero tolerance" stance given the enforcement data.

What happens next

Croydon Council is advancing its "Caught on Camera" scheme, which uses CCTV to identify suspected fly-tippers. The council also stated it clears 90% of reported fly-tips within 24 hours. Further targeted enforcement actions are planned for identified hotspots.