Cameras used to trap businesses who dump trade waste illegally

Number plate recognition technology, normally used by police to spot criminals, is being used to catch fly-tippers.

The system has been introduced this week at Harrow council's main dump to tackle rogue traders who make repeated visits to unload waste in order to avoid paying commercial disposal fees.

Cameras will log the registrations of vehicles that make more than two visits a day to the site in Forward Drive. The owners of vehicles that appear to be carrying trade waste will be reminded they must pay to dispose of it. Residents are allowed to leave rubbish for free.

The council says some businesses have been known to make a dozen visits a week to the dump to get rid of trade waste, costing it around £4,000 a month in lost collection fees. Jerry Hickman, Harrow's head of public realm services, said: "Over the next couple of weeks we are going to be handing out leaflets and putting up promotional material at the civic amenity site to ensure everyone knows the new system is coming in.

"Of course, we understand that sometimes householders might need to make a number of visits in one day - if they're clearing a garage, for example.

"But we will be watching for people who just want to dodge the proper payments for trade waste as that is ultimately cheating the council taxpayers of Harrow."