Council swoops to try to clean up Highgate

Operation 'Stop It', a partnership involving council enforcement officers, police and bailiffs, swooped on unlicensed waste carriers and other vehicles last week to try to stop environmental crime in the borough.

Officers are keen to crack down on the number of unlicensed waste carriers or vehicles transporting controlled waste as these are linked to fly-tipping , dumping and other environmental crimes. During 'Stop It' operations officers often incidentally uncover unrelated crimes.

The operation took place outside Wickes hardware store on Seven Sisters Road N15, an area that attracts many traders.

It involved stopping and investigating 95 vehicles, resulting in:

• 40 vehicles investigated regarding waste and smoking offences
• 1 FPN of £300 for transporting controlled waste without a license
• 1 Notice requesting papers for carrying controlled waste - penalty for not complying is £300 and/or prosecution
• 6 vehicles seized by police
• 1 arrest for theft of a disabled badge
• 1 arrest for possession of illegal substances
• 1 payment of an unpaid fine of over £650
• 2 FPNs of £50 for smoking in a company vehicle
• 12 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) of £200 issued for not displaying smoke free signage in company vehicles

Cllr Nilgun Canver, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: "This just shows the importance of these spot checks. We will continue to work closely with our partners in the police and the courts to tackle illegal activity around vehicles, especially looking out for unlicensed waste carriers that are responsible for so much dumping in our borough. Also, we will continue to protect those workers who are forced to sit in smoke polluted environments because their employers don't comply with the law which bans smoke in company vehicles."