Two men were forced to reload the piles of rubbish into their vans, they were detained and their vehicles were seized
Fly-tippers were caught red-handed dumping piles of rubbish on a country lane in Warwickshire when locals blocked their vans from leaving the area and called police.
Two men were detained and forced to load the rubbish back into their vans by officers, who said it was “some of the worst fly-tipping” they had seen.
Photographs show swathes of black bin bags and what appears to be industrial materials lying at the side of a country lane on the edge of the village of Meriden.
However, locals blocked two men from leaving the scene before police officers arrived to detain them.
A local farmer’s wife ensured the police officers were well fed while they watched the men clean up the messwith a homemade cake and cups of tea.
No cake or tea was given to the fly-tippers, police said.
It is not the first time people from the village of Meriden have taken matters into their own hands.
Twelve years ago, residentssome of whom were in their eightiesbarricaded an illegal traveller camp for more than 600 days.
It is understood last Wednesday’s fly-tipping blockadejust one mile from their previous protestlasted less time and police arrived only minutes after receiving a 999 call.
Sharing photographs on its Operational Patrol Unit for Warwickshire Police Facebook Page, an officer wrote : “We attended the Packington Estate on Maxstone Lane near Meriden to a report of two vans fly-tipping.
“We attended in support of North Warwickshire Local Policing officers who had been called to the scene after local residents and workers on the estate had blocked the offenders in.
“On arrival we found some of the worst fly-tipping we had seen in a long time.
“We detained two males who were instructed to reload the two vans with all the rubbish dumped.
“We supervised them cleaning up their mess and enjoyed a great cup of tea and slice of home made cake courtesy of the farmer’s wife.
“No cake and tea for these two offenders.”
The reloaded vans were then seized under the Environmental Act.
A “fly-tipper” is someone who deliberately deposits rubbish in an unauthorised place. It is illegal under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and those who commit the crime can receive a maximum fine of £50,000 and up to five years in prison.
However, despite the threat of a prison sentence, it is still a commonly reported crime across the country.
The issue was raised in the House of Commons earlier this month, as MPs questioned Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ministers about the problem.
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