INCIDENCES of fly-tipping across Sandwell have dropped by more than 100 in the first three months of 2018, councillors will be told.

But street cleaning teams still had to deal with over 1,000 reported incidents of rubbish being illegally dumped in public places across the borough.

Figures for the first three months of 2018 show a total of 1,118 reports compared with 1,219 incidents in 2017.

The report to the authority’s Economy, Skills, Transport and Environment Scrutiny Board officers said more than 99 per cent of incidents are cleared within 24 hours.

It adds that street teams are also helping to bring offenders to court: “Fly-tipping is photographed and any evidence is retrieved and recorded by the crews on location and referred onto the enforcement team for appropriate action.”

The council has also installed CCTV cameras in dumping blackspots in an effort to catch offenders.

Councillor Elaine Costigan, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for public health and protection, said: “We have responded to people’s concerns about fly-tipping and this reduction is very welcome. We now want to build on this.

“The mix of £400 fines and having CCTV in hotspots is really helping us tackle this environmental crime, which creates such a mess and costs the council taxpayer to clean up.

“We would also remind people that they face prosecution and an unlimited fine if they give their waste to someone who then illegally dumps it. Always ask where they are taking it and to see their waste carrier’s licence.”

The council has issued 74 fines to fly-tippers since a new enforcement team began issuing the maximum £400 fixed penalty notices in May 2017.