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Van seized in fly tipping probe
A van suspected of being used in
fly tipping in Liverpool has been seized in a joint operation with Merseyside
Police led by Liverpool City Council.
The white Ford Luton box type vehicle was seized, on Lilley Road, Fairfield, on Tuesday, 4 July
2017, using powers under the Environmental Protection Act.
Councillor Steve Munby, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said:-
"Fly tippers are criminals. They blight neighbourhoods and the mess they leave
results in distress and nuisance for residents and we will not hesitate to take
action where we receive evidence of illegal dumping."
The seizure is the latest move in a concerted effort by the City Council to
tackle illegal dumping and find those responsible. It has seen a doubling of the
number of staff with four new teams working every day to clear rubbish and find
those responsible. Earlier in 2017, 2 serial fly tippers who were caught dumping tonnes of
illegal trade waste, including asbestos, yards from a children's dance school
were jailed and had their vehicle crushed following a surveillance operation by
the Council and Merseyside Police.
Cllr Munby added:- "If you use a 'man and van service' to dispose
of your waste, you have a duty of care to always make sure that it is somebody
who is properly licensed as waste carrier and will responsibly dispose of
whatever you give them or you can also be prosecuted. Always ask for a receipt
and make a note of the time, date and registration number of their vehicle.
Liverpool City Council has excellent facilities for residents to dispose of most
unwanted household items for free using their nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre, or by using the Bulky Bobs service.
Anybody who has information about fly tippers should contact Liverpool City
Council's Street Scene Team in confidence on:- 0151 233 3001, and you don't have
to give your name or contact details."
A report to Cabinet was presented on Friday, 7 July 2017. Within the
report, it recommends the setting up of an
environmental crime hotline for people to report issues and the possibility of a
financial reward if their information leads to a prosecution, as well as action
against late night takeaways that don't clear litter from around their premises.
Street cleaning currently costs Liverpool Council Tax, that payers £8.5 million per
year and in 2016 more than 6,500 tonnes of waste was collected from street
cleansing rounds.
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Illegal tobacco traders to repay £175k
3 Lancashire men, who were jailed in
2016 for their part in a £16 million illegal tobacco fraud, have been ordered to
repay more than £175,000 or serve extra time in jail.
Wayne Brown, of Darwen, Keith Allen, of Oswaldtwistle, and James Willmott, of
Clayton le Moors, were caught by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) buying illegal
cigarettes and tobacco to sell on from Iqbal Haji of Blackburn, during a
surveillance operation in 2014.
The men were jailed in May 2016 for their part in a fraud that centred on a
criminal network based in Blackburn. 6 Lancashire men, including Haji, have
been jailed to date in a series of linked Court cases.
Debbie Porter, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said:-
"These were middlemen in the illegal tobacco trade. Organised criminal gangs
cannot operate without these middlemen to distribute illegal goods and circulate
criminal cash. These three have ended up behind bars and we're now taking away
everything their crimes got them. HMRC will recover money stolen through Tax
fraud for UK Taxpayers. We will not allow criminals to profit from Tax evasion.
We are determined to create a level playing field for local businesses by
disrupting the illegal trade and punishing the fraudsters. We urge anyone with
information about the black market in smuggled cigarettes and the associated Tax
evasion to contact us on 0800 788 887."
On Monday 3 July 2017, Brown, 52, owner of Blackburn's Beechwood Club, was ordered to
repay £67,616.16 within 3 months or a further 18 months will be added to his
jail sentence and he will still owe the money.
HMRC's financial investigators discovered Brown owned 12 rental properties in
the Darwen and Blackburn areas in addition to the club.
Retired Keith Allen, 67, was ordered to repay £65,444.16 within 3 months or
a further 18 months will be added to his jail sentence and he would still owe
the money. HMRC found Allen had property, shares and savings worth £65,444.16.
Painter and decorator, James Willmott, 55, was ordered to repay £42,000 within
3 months or a further 15 months will be added to his jail sentence and he
will still have to repay the money. HMRC found Willmott had £42,000 from the
sale of a house.
Further confiscation hearings are pending for others jailed as part of this
case.
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