BIG BROTHER style surveillance has been introduced across Wycombe district in a bid to catch people illegally disposing of waste.

Fly-tippers caught dumping on camera by Environment Agency chiefs will be hauled in front of the courts, where they face huge fines for environmental offences.

The crackdown is the result of a pro-active partnership between the Government department and Wycombe District Council.

Mark Leonard, Agency enforcement officer, told Midweek: "We wish to send a clear message to anyone who thinks they can get away with this anti-social behaviour, the environment agency can catch you tipping any where, any time.

"Fly-tipping may be viewed as a relatively trivial matter, but its impact on the public perception should not be underestimated. Account should be taken of the fact that these offences are deliberate and often financially motivated."

The partnership was born out of a growing cost for clean-up operations – a bill paid indirectly by the taxpayer.

Victoria Greenwood, agency spokesman, said: "The cost of cleaning up the waste runs into tens of thousands of pounds for even the smallest local authority."

She added: "We can't catch and prosecute every fly-tipper, this is why deterrence is so important. The Environment Agency in this area has taken a pro-active stance of targeting known sites and then maximising the public relations to deter others."

A spokesman for Aylesbury Magistrates Court told Midweek there were unusually high fines available for environmental offences – £20,000 compared to the normal £5,000.