A van which is being towed away after being confiscated for fly-tipping offences, on a low-loading vehicle.

Vehicles have been seized and suspects in fly-tipping cases identified in a joint operation between our environmental enforcement team and Kent Police’s Rural Task Force.

The teams joined forces on Wednesday (22 January) to target those involved in environmental crime in the borough.

The operation saw officers visiting an illegal waste site in east Gravesend and checking vehicles carrying waste or suspected of being involved in fly-tipping offences.

A number of environmental offences were dealt with and a suspect in a large-scale fly-tipping offence was identified.


A vehicle displaying false number plates was stopped and the driver was found to have no driving licence or insurance. The vehicle was seized by Kent police.

A second vehicle was seized for having no vehicle excise licence after it was identified as being involved in a recent fly-tipping offence at the glass and electrical recycling site at Morrison’s in Northfleet. The driver faces prosecution for suspected fly-tipping.

Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox, the council's cabinet member for strategic environment, said: “Proactive operations with partners such as the Rural Task Force are an important weapon in our fight against environmental crime.

“Offenders will not know when or where in the borough we will carry out spot checks together, and this week’s operation will not be the last.

“The message is simple: if you are an unlicensed waste carrier driving around Gravesham, you run the very real risk of running into our officers. It’s not worth the risk.”

Sergeant Darren Walshaw, of Kent Police's Rural Task Force, said: “Fly-tipping and environmental crime is a blight on Kent's beautiful country landscape, and impacts businesses and residents in rural areas.

“Those behind it are often linked to other criminal activity and, for that reason, we will continue to work with partner agencies to identify those behind rural offences and bring them to justice.”


Rubbish and your duty of care

Take environmental crime seriously and will use powers to investigate and prosecute.

Find out about your legal 'duty of care' to make sure what anyone you ask to take away your rubbish, is registered and authorised to do so.

Read about other ways to dispose of your waste safely

Report fly-tipping in Gravesham online or if you have any information relating to any environmental crime in the borough you can email Tipoff@gravesham.gov.uk

Published: Thursday, 23rd January 2025