TWO people have been charged and a van has been seized in connection with a large fly-tip near Sawbridgeworth.

At around 4.30pm on Saturday (3 January), a call was made to police reporting that household waste was being dumped on land in Redricks Lane.

Officers from the Response team immediately attended and discovered a van stuck in mud next to a large fly-tip which contained rubbish, furniture and suitcases among other items.

Two men were arrested at the scene and taken into police custody and the van was seized.
Sergeant David Miller, from the Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Thanks to the vigilance and quick reporting from a member of the public, officers were able to attend and make swift arrests in connection with the incident.

“Fly-tipping has a big impact on landowners and local communities and it’s an issue we take seriously. Charges have been secured and the case will now progress through the courts.”

A spokesperson for Gilston Crop Management, who operate on the affected land, said: “Dumping of waste on farmland causes significant disruption and damage, placing an added financial burden of thousands of pounds on an already struggling farming sector.

“This incident has not only taken up considerable time and physical effort to resolve, time that should be spent maintaining crops, but is also compounded by the fear it may happen again, highlighting the urgent need for stronger enforcement and community vigilance to protect our rural areas.”

If you witness fly-tipping in progress, always dial 999, giving as much information as possible about any people or vehicles involved. If you come across a fly-tip, this should be reported to the local council.
Everyone has a legal duty of care to ensure their household or business waste is disposed of correctly.

You can be prosecuted even if your waste is fly-tipped by someone else on your behalf.

Further information around how to dispose of waste correctly and check your carrier is registered is available here – https://orlo.uk/LQiCC

• Luweweh Njie, aged 31, from Station Road in Kings Langley and Shevoy Burton, aged 24, of Shirley Grove in Greater London, have been charged in connection with the incident. They are due to appear before St Albans Magistrates’ Court on Friday 6 February.