Fly-tipping is often discovered only after the vehicle and people responsible have gone. By then, the landowner or council is left with the waste, the cost of removal and very little evidence showing how it arrived. At locations that are repeatedly targeted, a planned investigation can document the activity as it happens and provide a much clearer account of those involved.
LPI assists councils, housing providers, landowners, estate managers, construction companies and environmental teams dealing with illegal dumping and other waste-related activity. The service is designed around a known location or recurring pattern. It is not simply a camera pointed at a site indefinitely in the hope that something happens.
You are not committing to anything by contacting us.
The most important information is often already held by the client: the dates waste was found, the type and amount of material, photographs, likely entry and exit routes, nearby businesses, witness comments and anything noticed about vehicles or timing. Even an approximate pattern—such as early Monday mornings or evenings after a nearby site closes—can help narrow the monitoring window.
We also consider whether the waste appears to be a one-off domestic load, repeated commercial material, building waste, tyres, appliances or something else. The type of waste does not identify the offender by itself, but it may help the client understand likely vehicle requirements, source activity and when another deposit may occur.
Before recommending surveillance, we assess the dumping point, the land around it, roads and tracks, legitimate users, lighting, mobile coverage and safe observation options. Rural lanes and isolated access roads need a different plan from a housing estate or industrial area. In public places, the operation also has to avoid collecting unnecessary information about people who are not connected to the incident.
Monitoring can involve investigators positioned to observe the relevant route or location. Where the client has proper authority over the land or asset, temporary camera equipment may also be considered. A camera can provide continuity at a fixed point, while an investigator may be able to record approach, departure and movement beyond the immediate dumping area. We explain which method is likely to add useful evidence and which limitations remain.
The date and time a vehicle or person approaches the location.
The vehicle type, colour, distinguishing features and registration where visible.
The number and general description of people involved.
The loading, unloading or depositing of material where it can be seen lawfully.
The direction of travel and relevant activity before or after the deposit.
Visibility, distance, weather, darkness, obstructions and the need to remain discreet can all affect what is captured. A registration number or clear facial image can never be guaranteed in advance. We report what was actually observed and do not fill gaps with assumption.
Investigators do not confront people, block vehicles or try to seize waste. Before deployment, the client names an authorised contact and agrees what notification should be made if dumping is seen. A crime in progress or immediate danger may require police or emergency contact. The investigator’s priority is safety and a reliable record.
In some circumstances, it may be proportionate and operationally possible to observe a vehicle arriving from or travelling towards another location. That can add context, but it is not automatic and may require more than one investigator. The objective, resources and boundaries must be agreed beforehand. LPI does not enter private land, inspect private waste records or claim a business is responsible merely because a vehicle appears connected to it.
The report may contain a chronological account, relevant still images, video references, visible vehicle information, a description of the waste and a location or route summary. If several incidents are captured, a combined schedule can show repeated vehicles, timings or methods. Original material is retained and labelled in accordance with the agreed case-handling arrangements.
The report can be shared with the client’s environmental team, solicitor, insurer or police liaison contact. It may help inform enforcement or legal decisions, but LPI cannot promise that an offender will be identified or that a penalty or prosecution will follow.
Some hotspots are best approached in phases. A short assessment or temporary camera deployment may help establish the likely window, followed by human surveillance at the strongest time. Other locations may need rotating coverage because offenders change days or routes. We review the result of each phase before recommending further cost.
The client must have authority over any land or structure used for equipment. Camera position, field of view, signage or other obligations require proper consideration, particularly where public roads, homes or unrelated property may be visible. We will not place equipment unlawfully or use it to look into private domestic areas.
The exact dumping location, map reference or What3words address.
Dates and times when waste was found, including photographs if available.
Known vehicles, witnesses, routes, gates or access restrictions.
The person or organisation with authority over the land and any existing cameras.
What action the final evidence is intended to support.
Fly-tipping and waste-crime investigations are quoted to scope. Cost depends on the location, likely monitoring window, investigator numbers, equipment, travel and report required. A phased plan can be used where the pattern is uncertain, allowing the first deployment to guide any later work.
No. We can target the strongest times and locations, but no investigator can control whether an incident happens during the agreed deployment.
Often, subject to a safe and lawful observation plan. Rural access, visibility, communications and escape routes are assessed before deployment.
Yes, where there is a genuine problem and the client has the necessary authority over the land or asset involved.
Potentially, after authority, location, privacy, security and practical suitability have been assessed. It is not appropriate at every site.
Follow the reporting requirements that apply to your land and organisation. A private investigation should support, not replace, any necessary environmental or police report.
You will not be judged, pressured or rushed. Speak with an investigator, explain your concern, and we will tell you honestly whether an investigation would help.
All enquiries are handled privately and respectfully. You can contact us even if you are only seeking advice.
