THE number of fly-tipping enforcement actions carried out by Torfaen council has fallen in the past year, according statistics from the Welsh Government.

In 2015/2016, there were 235 actions carried out the local authority..

This year – 2016/2017 – the number has fallen by roughly nine per cent to 213 actions.

The type of actions which can be used against fly-tippers includes investigation, warning letters, statutory notices, fixed penalty notices, duty of care inspections, stop and search, prosecution and injunctions.

From this year’s figures, the number of investigations fell by 4.9 per cent from 107 in 2015/2016 to 102 actions.

The number of duty of care investigations fell by 30.6 per cent, from 49 last year to 35 in 2016/2017.

Prosecutions also fell by 25 per cent - four in 2015/2016 compared to three in 2016//2017.

Of the prosecutions involving Torfaen council, a Blaenau Gwent man was prosecuted for dumping bags of rubbish and plastics on common land near the Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent border in August 2016.

Carlton Hale, 58, of Rectory Road in Crumlin appeared at Newport Magistrates Court in October and was fined £320 and made to pay costs of £350, and a victim surcharge of £32.

Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent councils, the latter authority also saw a drop in the number of enforcement actions in 2016/2017 compared to the previous year, regularly work in partnership to investigate fly-tipping matters.

In May, Philip Hatch, 28, of Llanelly Hill, Abergavenny was fined £220 and made to pay compensation of £342, additional costs of £354.05, and a victim surcharge of £30 for dumping household items on common land on Varteg Road.

Torfaen council investigates every incident of fly-tipping reported to the authority and takes enforcement action wherever possible.

The slight drop in enforcement action noted in the stats is due to less evidence being found with the fly-tipping, or fewer witnesses coming forward, which makes it far more difficult for the council to investigate.

The council is therefore urging residents to report any incidents of fly-tipping to the authority via the appropriate channels.

Cllr Fiona Cross, Torfaen’s executive member for the environment, said: “We investigate every incident of fly-tipping reported to us, however small it may seem, and take enforcement action wherever possible.

“We are only able to take action if evidence is found or a witness comes forward, and I would urge anyone who witnesses fly-tipping to report it confidentially to us.”

Fly tipping can be reported to the council confidentially via the website, through the Torfaen app, or by calling 01495 762200.