Slough Borough Council has bolstered its surveillance of illegal waste dumping by installing six additional CCTV cameras across the town, officials confirmed on Thursday. The units supplement three cameras already deployed and can be moved to emerging hotspots as officers target persistent fly‑tipping.
Expanded surveillance after successful prosecutions
The council said footage captured since a targeted campaign began a year ago — using CCTV and ANPR at a clothing recycling bank and on a service road — had been "invaluable" in tracking those responsible for dumping rubbish. Local enforcement teams have identified a range of offenders, from residents disposing of bulky household items incorrectly to commercial operators who reportedly take cash and then illegally tip waste in Slough.
Council leaders pointed to recent incidents where CCTV recorded people leaving household waste, such as mattresses, and another case in May when two men were filmed abandoning bags containing present wrappings, food waste and other rubbish by bins on the Cinder Track.
Stronger national penalties
The expansion of the camera network comes after the government announced a fourfold rise in the maximum fine for waste crimes, increasing the top penalty from £1,000 to £5,000. The move is part of a wider crackdown on waste and street littering, with the highest penalty for littering raised to £750.
Slough’s lead member for public protection said the council was keen to make it clear there are lawful and free options for household waste, and that there was no excuse for leaving items by bins or at recycling banks.
"There is no excuse for dumping your rubbish – not that it is by a bin, not that there was too much to get in your normal household bins, not that you don't have access to a car," said Zafar Satti.
Practical options for residents
To underline that disposal options exist locally, the council highlighted the three household waste recycling centres available to residents. Campaign materials and officers will continue to encourage use of the authorised sites and licensed waste carriers, while CCTV and ANPR will be used to gather evidence where offences occur.
- Six new mobile CCTV cameras have been installed in addition to three existing units.
- Footage has helped identify both householders and commercial operators engaged in illegal dumping.
- National maximum fines for waste crime have been raised to £5,000; fines for street littering may now reach £750.
The council stressed that many offences are avoidable. It reminded residents that Chalvey tip offers free disposal for nearly all domestic waste, and that licensed carriers can remove items for a fee; both options remove the need to leave unwanted goods in public places.
| Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) | Location |
|---|---|
| Chalvey | White Hart Road |
| Burnham | Crowpiece Lane |
| Langley | Langley Park Road |
Enforcement teams will continue to relocate cameras to emerging problem areas, the council said, and will use the increased fines and gathered evidence to pursue prosecutions or issue penalties. For Slough residents, the enhanced surveillance is intended to protect local streets, parks and communal bin areas from the blight of dumped waste, reduce the cost burden placed on council tax payers, and deter commercial operators that do not dispose of customers’ waste responsibly.
With the summer months often seeing a rise in fly‑tipping incidents, the council’s strengthened approach and the stronger national penalties mark an attempt to shift behaviour and make enforcement more effective in the commuter belt town.
