West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has today welcomed new legislation which will help local councils to punish fly-tippers.

The Government has passed beefed up legislation strengthening fines for people dumping rubbish in the countryside. The maximum fine for fly-tipping has been raised from £400 to £1000 and people who litter or write graffiti now face a maximum £500 fine.

The announcement formed part of a series of initiatives to combat anti-social behaviour including a £1.65 million fund to help local councils act on disposal of chewing gum and extra support for youth clubs to allow them to open for more nights.

Alongside this, the Home Office launched pilots of the ‘Immediate Justice’ scheme, which sees those found engaging in anti-social behaviour made to repair the damage they inflicted on victims and communities, with an ambition for them to start work as soon as 48 hours after their offence.

Harriett said:

“Fly-tipping is a serious issue in rural West Worcestershire and I welcome these efforts to increase fines which will strengthen our local councils hands in deterring and detecting fly-tippers.

“It’s a serious scourge of our countryside and I’m hoping that councils will be encourage to act whenever there are instances of rubbish dumping whether its in country lanes or on the street.

“Anti-social behaviour is a serious concern for my constituents and I support this decisive action to punish those responsible as well as supporting initiatives which will prevent further nuisance in the future.”