A VEHICLE suspected of having been used to carry out a series of fly-tips in Tilbury has been seized by Thurrock Council Environmental Enforcement Officers. The owner of the vehicle will now be issued with a £200 Fixed Penalty Notice.

Leader of Thurrock Council, Cllr Rob Gledhill said: "Residents took to social media about the fly-tipping incidents at the weekend but regrettably no one was willing to come forward to make an official statement which means that Environmental Enforcement Officers could not seek to prosecute those involved.

"However our officers found a vehicle nearby which matched both the description and pictures posted online of the van the fly-tippers had used. It appeared to have been abandoned so the vehicle was removed and its registered keeper will be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice.

"This shows that we will take whatever action we can to stop those who think they can use our borough as their illegal dumping ground, either by fly-tipping waste, or abandoning their disused vehicles here.

"While it was fortunate that the posts on social media were brought to my attention and helped our officers find the vehicle, if residents witness a crime like this it is far more effective to use Essex Police's online reporting function than it is to post on social media. It will take the same amount of time to make a report as it will to post on Facebook but is far more likely to end in wrongdoers being prosecuted.

"The more timely information that either the police or the council receive the more likely it is we can bring successful prosecutions."

Reports to Essex Police can be made by calling 101 or online through their Digital 101 service which includes live chat and an online report function. More information can be found [L]http://www.essex.police.uk/digital101[.L]