WINCHESTER civic chiefs are beefing up their stance against fly-tippers.

The problem has worsened during lockdown with visits to recycling centres requiring advance booking and imposing charges.

Cllr Jackie Porter, Cabinet member for built environment and wellbeing, said the council was improving its investigations.

She told the Cabinet: "All Neighbourhood Services teams are now trained to inspect for evidence. We are actively pursuing every single case where we can find evidence.

"The message to flytippers is 'don't'. You will be pursued vigorously to pay back for what you have done."

The council has also introduced a sticky label similar to 'Police Aware' on vehicles, so people will know that the council knows about the tipping.

Council staff are placing signs across the district to encourage the public to record and report fly tipping that they witness and to act as a deterrent to offenders.

The council has taken action against 13 offenders in the past nine months, including a case which appeared before Portsmouth Magistrates on February 9 where two offenders faced charges of failing to obtain a waste transfer note following the transfer of waste.

This case was investigated by the council Neighbourhood Services team and one further case is set to be heard in court. This is in addition to the issue of five fixed penalty notices in the same time period that have amounted to hundreds of pounds in penalties.