An "alarming rise" in the amount of waste that is being dumped on residential streets in Westminster has led the council to launch blitz on fly-tipping.

Alongside increased and targeted patrols from 75 extra City Inspectors, it is launching a new website function and using social media to encourage people to report incidents of fly-tipping.

It follows an angry tweet from Westminster North MP Karen Buck earlier this week, and reports of rubbish being dumped in Lancaster Gate, Pimlico, Queen’s Park and Westbourne Green.

A dumped bike
A dumped bike among other rubbish

She wrote: “Ok @CityWestminster - really time for some enforcement against dumping” along with an image of the mess left on the streets.

The new drive by the council will see an army of 75 Westminster City Inspectors hitting the streets to catch people fly-tipping, give advice to neighbourhoods about how to dispose of waste correctly, and act as an on-street deterrent.

On social media, the council will be encouraging residents to inform the council when they see fly-tipping taking place using #FightTheFlytippers and putting in an address and time.

City Inspectors will then be sent to the reported site to stop the activity and issues fines where necessary. Registration numbers of dumpers’ vehicles ‘in the act’ will also welcomed.

And residents are also encouraged to use the online ‘Report it’ function on the council’s new website, available at www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it.

A carpet dumped on the street

Cllr Richard Beddoe, Westminster City Council cabinet member for city management, said: “We are seeing more and more household rubbish, like microwaves, sofas and TVs being dumped on the streets. It’s alarming, and it is just unacceptable.

“People need to take greater responsibility for their rubbish, there are 100s of ways to arrange collections, recycle or dispose of these items.

“National laws mean we can only take action against fly-tippers if we catch them in the act or have evidence – so we are asking the public to help. We cannot continue to let this happen.”