In an operation to target fly tippers in the New Forest, officers from Hampshire’s Country Watch team together with partner agencies stopped 50 vehicles and found a number of motorists to have been committing other offences.

The idea behind the operation, which took place between 7am and 10am on 11 January, was to stop commercial vehicles involved with landscaping, tree surgery, house and garden clearance.

The Roads Policing Unit, local neighbourhood policing teams, New Forest District Council, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), HM Revenue and Customs, Forestry England, and the Environment Agency supported the officers.

A total of 50 vehicles were stopped concerning various traffic offences such as no insurance, transporting dangerous goods, and no MOT. The results are as follows:

Two people were issued fines for transporting dangerous goods in an inappropriate manner; one vehicle was stopped for having no MOT; three people were reported for summons for driving without tax; two vehicles were seized for driving without insurance; one person was reported for summons for transporting waste without a waste carrier licence and a 55-year-old man was issued a community resolution after cannabis was found in the vehicle after a search under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Officers also engaged with a number of road users and offered advice on safe waste carrying and disposal.

Police Sergeant Stuart Ross, of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Country Watch Team, said: “We are aware of the impact these kinds of offences can have on the local community and the environment. I’m pleased with the results; it was an excellent of example of partnership working whereby enforcement, advice and reassurance can be provided to road users and the wider public.

“We very much take a partnership approach to tackling these issues, involving a wide-range of partners when necessary, to ensure that local residents feel safe and protected within their local community.”

As always, if you see anything suspicious please call 101 or report the incident to us via the Hampshire Constabulary website. If a crime is in progress, please dial 999.