COUNCIL officials are working alongside police to tackle fly-tipping after a recent survey revealed more than half of rural residents are affected by the blight.

Representatives from Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) have joined the Police Rural Crime Team to target those who dump rubbish in the county.

The recent Rural Crime Survey 2018 found 57 per cent of those who responded have seen evidence of fly-tipping in the county's countryside.

Local authorities have responsibility for fly-tipping and lead prosecutions against those involved.

However, DWP officials say the best way of dealing with fly-tippers is to work with different organisations, including the police.

Councillor Tony Alford, chairman of the DWP’s joint committee, said: “Fly-tipping isn’t just unsightly and anti-social; it is a crime.

"It makes sense for the DWP to work closely with the police so we can share information and pool our resources to investigate those who break the law by illegally transporting and dumping waste.

"However, the National Rural Crime Survey 2018 also shows that rural crime is still massively underreported, so we’d like to remind people to tell us about any fly-tipping wherever you see it. This can be done online, by phone or by e-mail.

"We’re delighted to be part of this multi-agency approach and are looking forward to continuing our work with Dorset Police in the future.”

The Daily Echo reported in February that officers would join the battle against fly-tippers by stopping vans believed to be connected to rogue waste carriers.

Three months later, in May, the DWP's enforcement team worked alongside police for Op Market Place. During the crackdown, vehicles suspected of carrying rubbish were pulled over by police, and their drivers subjected to waste carrier licence checks.

Dorset's police and crime commissioner Martyn Underhill said he recently attended a 'problem-solving forum' on fly-tipping.

"A partnership action plan is now in place to tackle the issue," he said.

"Waste crime costs the English economy millions of pounds every year and waste criminals undercut genuine businesses who dispose of waste responsibly.

"For too long those who commit the crime of fly-tipping have got away with blighting our county."