Five vans have been seized, two men arrested and fines issued in a police operation cracking down on fly-tippers and illegal waste carriers in Dartford.

Council and police leaders said they were "clamping down" on unlicensed scrap and waste collectors to "help eradicate some of the leading causes of fly-tipping."

On Friday 11 June 2021, Kent police officers including the Rural Task Force, along with teams from Dartford and Gravesham borough councils, removed vehicles in a series of road checks aimed at reducing fly-tipping in the area.

Dartford Council said they were working with police to ensure "Dartford does not become a dumping ground for waste."

In Dartford, a Peugeot Partner van and two Ford Transit vans checked in Princes Road and the High Street, were all recovered by police after it was found they had no road tax.

The driver of one of the Transit vans was also issued with a £300 fixed penalty notice for carrying scrap metal without a waste carrier licence.

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nother Ford Transit was seized in Whitehill Road, Gravesend after it was stopped and officers found it was untaxed and not insured. The driver received a traffic offence report in connection with the offences.

A further driver stopped in Crayford Road, Dartford with containers of used cooking oil had his van taken as it had no tax or insurance. He was also required to present his waste carriers licence to the council on a later date.

Officers also arrested two men in connection with separate incidents where wheel clamps were removed from vehicles that had been lawfully immobilised by authorised bailiffs and agents.

Both were detained on suspicion of theft and criminal damage in Gravesend and Gillingham.

Sergeant Darren Walshaw of the Rural Task Force said: "Drivers involved in carrying and disposing waste must ensure they have the appropriate licence and documentation as our officers will issue fixed penalty notices on the spot should they discover an offence has been committed.

"While we regularly visit scrap metal dealers to ensure they are keeping accurate records, our actions are focused on offenders who illegally carry waste material that is often fly-tipped in rural areas.

"I would remind householders and businesses to ensure anyone hired to remove rubbish from their address is licensed to do so. If any fly-tipped material is later linked to their property they risk being fined even if they have paid someone to dispose of it.

"By working with the local council teams we are sending a clear message that waste carriers must act responsibly or face the consequences."

Throughout the day several other vehicles were checked to ensure drivers carrying and moving waste material were doing so legally and had all the required paperwork.

Dartford Borough Council Leader Jeremy Kite said: "By clamping down on unlicensed scrap and waste collectors, council officers, together with Kent Police, can help eradicate some of the leading causes of fly-tipping in our borough.

"We were pleased to work with the police to ensure that Dartford does not become a dumping ground for waste.

"I’d like to thank our officers, along with Kent Police and Gravesham Borough Council, for continuing the fight against fly-tippers."