Solar-powered cameras are being deployed across Solihull in an effort to ensure fly-tippers face justice.

The four devices, which cost a total of £9,020, will be moved around the borough and used to keep an eye on those areas where there have been problems with people dumping waste.

The first of the cameras has now been installed, with the other three to be brought into use in the coming weeks.

Stock photo of dumped rubbish.
Stock photo of dumped rubbish.

Cllr Alison Rolf, cabinet member for stronger communities and partnerships, said that the images they captured would prove crucial in bringing prosecutions against those flouting the law.

Addressing Full Council, she said that she was"incredibly cross" about instances, in her own Bickenhill ward, of items being abandoned in lanes and gateways - despite the tip being just down the road.

"What I would like to see is that those prosecutions are made very public [to let] people know, not just in Solihull but from outside of the borough, that coming here and dumping their stuff is completely unacceptable," she said.

She urged councillors to flag up any areas where there was a particular problem, although she said that members would have to bear in mind that there were a limited number of cameras available.

It was suggested that the technology would be rolled out on a "priority basis" but it was intended that every part of the borough would benefit.

Cllr Gail Sleigh (Con, Castle Bromwich) said there were areas in her own ward where she would like to see the cameras deployed and was sure that other members could also point to hot spots where the technology could be a major asset.

She stressed the importance of sending a strong message to those responsible for the "costly and anti social behaviour".

Cllr Chris Williams (Green, Chelmsley Wood) welcomed the use of cameras to tackle a problem which he feared was getting worse, although he warned that officers might be left with "a long list" of requests.

"Ever since I was elected in 2012, I have seen some sites week in, week out [where] the council is paying to remove the waste," he said.

"It might only be 10 bags plus a few prams and a few other bits of plastic and rubbish, which might not be as quite as high value and expensive for us to deal with as some of the quieter sites down the back of a country lane. However [it does] encourage and send the message that it's acceptable doing it."

He asked Cllr Rolf if the council could carry out assessments on how much money was saved through the use of the cameras and was assured that this would be something the local authority would look into.

Solihull Council has recently signalled it will be taking a harder line on environmental crime. Last month it had agreed a pilot scheme for a private contractor to issue fines for dog fouling and littering, after admitting that its own officers had lacked the resources to take enforcement action.