Town Hall chiefs are introducing a £400 fine for those caught dumping rubbish or unwanted goods in the road after a rise in fly-tipping in recent years.

Councillors have approved penalties of between £150 and £400 for those caught fly-tipping. The maximum penalty will be reduced to £200 if paid within 10 days.

Describing the issue as “a serious problem”, a report before councillors revealed there were 2,047 recorded fly-tipping incidents in 2010-11, rising to a staggering 5,246 in 2013-14. Last year there were 4,174.

The report said the council has carried out “high visibility and covert patrols” to reduce fly tipping.

New powers allow local authorities to issue fixed penalty notices even for small-scale illegal dumping of waste, providing them with an alternative remedy to prosecutions, which are difficult and expensive to pursue.

• Keywords
  FINES, REFUSE DISPOSAL, FLY-TIPPING, ROADS
• Geographical keyword
  ISLINGTON (METROPOLITAN BOROUGH)
• Persons keyword
  Islington Town Hall