Labour has today pledged to “clean up Swindon” as new research finds over 40 incidents of fly-tipping, or illegal dumping of waste hits the town every week.
There were 2289 incidents in Swindon in total in 2021/2022.
Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for South Swindon, Heidi Alexander and Labour Councillor Adorabelle Amaral Shaikh took Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, Steve Reed MP on a walkabout in Central Swindon this week to show him the extent of the problem in Swindon.
A Labour government would establish “clean up squads” in England and Wales for fly-tippers, rubbish dumpers and vandals ensuring that those who make the mess clean up the mess. They will be given Fixed Penalty Cleaning Notices that will be managed by the Local Authority.
According to new analysis of Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs’ figures, the number of fly-tipping incidents has skyrocketed across England by a third over the last 13 years from 819,571 in 2010 to 1,091,019 in 2022.
These figures show widespread dumping of large fridges, old furniture, carpets and waste – plaguing communities across the country.
The stats also show that the number of Fixed Penalty Notices for fly-tippers increased by 176% over the same period – illustrating that the current sanction regime isn’t working in deterring offenders.
Labour has called for fresh thinking to tackle the scourge of anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping to ensure that offenders are met with consequences.
Steve Reed MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, said: “The Conservatives have let neighbourhoods be buried under an avalanche of litter and dumped rubbish – leaving communities feeling broken and powerless down a spiral of decline.
“A Labour government will clean up Britain. We will introduce clean-up squads to ensure those who make the mess, clean up the mess.”
Adorabelle Amaral Shaikh, Labour Councillor for Central Swindon said “Flytipping is one of the most common issues that residents in Central Swindon talk to me about. I’ve lost count of the number of reports I’ve had to make to the Borough Council in recent years.
The sad truth is the Conservative council and Conservative Government have failed to get a grip of the problem in Swindon.
I’m pleased Steve Reed came to Swindon to see the extent of the problem we have here. We desperately need a Labour Government to give the council new powers to deal with this scourge.”
A Labour government will make Britain’s streets safe by raising confidence in the police and criminal justice system to its highest levels, within a decade.
We will tackle anti-social behaviour with an action plan to prevent crime, punish criminals and protect communities. Labour will:
Introduce a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee with 13,000 additional neighbourhood police and PCSOs, increased town centre patrols and a guaranteed named officer and PCSO for every community.
Introduce new Respect Orders, a new criminal offence to target persistent adult repeat offenders who are ruining lives with antisocial behaviour.
Tough action against town centre drug dealing with tough powers for police to shut down crack houses and local neighbourhood drug teams to patrol town centres lead data-driven hotspot policing targeted at common drug dealing sites.
Introduce clean up squads for fly-tippers: with tough penalties for fly-tippers and establish clean up squads whereby offenders will clear up litter, fly-tipping and vandalism they have dumped. They will be given Fixed Penalty Cleaning Notices that will be managed by the Local Authority.
Expand the use of parental sanctions: For parents whose children repeatedly engage in anti-social behaviour, we will extend the use of Parenting Orders forcing parents to attend parental classes. Delivered through the courts, and overseen by Community Payback Boards and Local Authorities, parents will be forced to take responsibility for the actions of their children and to get the support they need to curb their child’s antisocial behaviour.
