Fly-tippers should be 'garrotted with their own intestines'

Former government minister Sir Desmond Swayne said in Parliament today: “The penalties are insufficient. If offenders were garrotted with their own intestines, there’d be fewer of them.” 

The comment that offenders should be garrotted – strangled – was met with laughter across the House. 

Sir Desmond is known for his brief and punchy questions in the Commons. 

The MP for New Forest West was speaking as MPs questioned the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) ministers about fly-tipping. 

Sir Desmond Swayne

Environment minister Robbie Moore said: “It’s important that councils have the ability to utilise the increased penalty fines that we are giving them to £1,000. 

“And we want as a Government to see those penalties being utilised so that we can drive down fly-tipping in all council areas.” 

Mr Moore had earlier told the Commons: “I know what a blight litter and fly-tipping can have on local communities, which is why we have provided nearly £1 million to help councils purchase new bins, and almost £1.2 million to combat fly-tipping and a further £1 million will be awarded in the spring. 

“And we have more than doubled the maximum fines that councils can issue, with all income from fly-tipping fines to be reinvested in enforcement and cleaning up our streets from April to ensure that councils can invest in cracking down on crime.” 

Hampshire County Council recently announced plans to close 12 tips, including two in the New Forest, in a public consultation. 

Somerley and Marchwood tips are both listed which would leave one left in the New Forest.   

Councillors in the protected area warned it would create “fly-tipping chaos”. 

The New Forest District Council website states incidents of fly-tipping are taken very seriously. 

A spokesman said: “We aim to reduce fly-tipping through increased prosecutions, improved reporting and education. 

“If fly-tipping on council-owned land is reported to us, we will remove it. 

“We will investigate all fly-tipping incidents for evidence to help us find the person responsible, so we can prosecute them.  

“If a fly-tip is on private land, it is the landowner or occupier's responsibility to arrange for it to be removed.”