Gateshead residents caught dumping rubbish illegally now face Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) set at the statutory maximum of £1,000, the local authority confirmed in a January 2026 statement. The move raises the penalty from the previous £400 level as the council seeks to clamp down on what leaders have described as a ‘disgraceful’ problem in communities across the borough.
The council says cleaning up illegal waste cost it about £364,200 in a single recent year, and that officers removed 567 tonnes of rubbish from local streets and verges during that period.
To catch those responsible, Gateshead has created a dedicated Anti-Fly-Tipping Squad funded by just over £400,000. The council is also deploying 10 overt ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras rotating through known hotspots such as Bensham and Birtley to help identify vehicles involved in dumping.
Councillor Martin Gannon, Leader of Gateshead Council, said: “This case sends a clear message: we will not tolerate those who dump waste illegally in our communities… we are committed to identifying and prosecuting offenders using all the tools at our disposal.” The council says FPNs will be used as the primary on-the-spot penalty, but those who refuse to pay or who commit serious offences will be prosecuted in court, where fines are often in excess of £1,500 plus costs.
The authority has set a target to reduce fly-tipping incidents by 20% by the end of the 2025/26 financial year. The new enforcement approach represents a shift away from a previous ‘warning-first’ policy toward tougher, prosecution-led action so that every offender is more likely to face a penalty.
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