Brent Council’s tough stance on fly-tipping has received national recognition, as the government announced new powers for local authorities to tackle environmental crime. The borough’s Don’t Mess with Brent campaign was highlighted as part of the government’s new Plan for Change, aimed at supporting cleaner, safer neighbourhoods.
The zero-tolerance campaign, which has already seen a 30% increase in fines issued compared to the previous year, targets fly-tippers with increased enforcement, more frontline officers, and steeper penalties. The Council says the early results show promising progress, with a noticeable drop in the number of fly-tipping incidents reported across the borough.
On Monday 28 April, Brent’s hardline approach was further endorsed during a visit from Steve Reed MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Mary Creagh CBE MP, Secretary of State for Nature. They joined Council Leader Cllr Muhammed Butt to witness the crushing of a van dumped on Brent’s streets—symbolising a new era of enforcement, enabled by powers that allow local authorities to destroy vehicles linked to fly-tipping.
Cllr Butt was unequivocal in his message: “Put simply, I cannot wait to crush more vehicles responsible for ruining our streets. I’ve had enough and so have our residents. Criminals who pollute their neighbourhoods with rubbish need to be stopped. These new powers will be a welcome addition to our arsenal, reinforcing our zero-tolerance stance on fly-tipping.
“We’re beginning to see the positive impact of our focused efforts, and I am determined to use every tool at our disposal, including seizing vehicles, to reclaim our streets.”
The visit from top ministers comes as Brent Council continues to ramp up its anti-fly-tipping campaign, encouraging residents to report offenders and support community-wide clean-up efforts.
Residents are being urged to help the Council by reporting fly-tipping through official channels to ensure swift action is taken. “Together, we can make Brent clean and green,” the Council said in a statement.
With government recognition, new enforcement powers, and the backing of the community, Brent is doubling down on its promise: Don’t mess with Brent.
