A dinosaur-disguised fly-tipper has managed to avoid a hefty fine but baffled locals after being caught dumping rubbish in the dead of night.
The race is on to unmask the fly-tipping offender in Southend-on-Sea, Essex after a video posted by the Your Southend news website showed the dinosaur dumping two bin bags on the pavement.
The perpetrator has managed to avoid a £400 fine for dumping rubbish in a public space in the Essex town, even after the local council installed cameras on the seafront after a spate of fly-tipping in 2023.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was the night before bin day too. Clearly, he is struggling with the new bin rules,” the resident who shared the video with the website said.
“Well, Barney the Dinosaur was clearly up to some mischief last night,” said another resident who was woken up by the commotion.
Your Southend has launched an appeal for the suspect. It decribed the dinosaur as having a “height: approx 2 metres, distinctive little T. rex arms” and “likes to swing round lampposts”.
Fly-tipping is illegal in the United Kingdom and is a serious criminal offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Being caught fly-tipping can result in an unlimited fine, a prison sentence of up to five years, or both.
What constitutes fly-tipping
- Dumping household waste, garden waste, rubble, or tyres in public or private areas
- Leaving large items, multiple bags of waste, or mattresses next to street recycling points or outside charity shops and closed recycling centres
- Disposing of commercial or industrial waste unlawfully
- The illegal disposal of controlled waste, which includes both liquid and solid materials
What to do if you witness fly-tipping
- Do not confront the individuals, keep your safety the priority
- Make a note of the date, time, and location and document descriptions of the people involved and any vehicles
- Report the incident to your local council, which can often be done online through the GOV.UK website or the local authority’s app
- Do not touch any of the tipped waste
