BRADFORD Council received 339 reports of flytipping in Keighley Central Ward during 2017/18, the highest total for this ward in eight years.

This figure is in a new report about how this crime affects the district. The document notes Bradford district overall had the highest rates of reported flytipping in Yorkshire last year.

The latest total number of reported cases for Keighley Central was the highest since 2009/10, though is still lower than numbers of cases in this ward each year between 2005/6 and 2009/10.

The number of reported cases in Keighley West during 2017/18 was 114, exactly the same as the previous year., while the latest equivalent figure for Keighley East was 77, a small rise on the 71 incidents the year before.

Worth Valley saw 103 reported cases last year, compared to 139 in 2016/17. Reported cases in Craven totalled 59 last year, compared to 44 the previous year. And Bingley Rural recorded 90 instances of flytipping in 2017/18, eight less than in 2016/17.

Keighley Central councillor Abid Hussain responded: “Flytipping is a major issue across the district and as councillors we’re asking everyone in the community for their help in identifying those responsible.

“We need details such as vehicle registration numbers so we can prosecute these people.

“We’re working together to make sure the number of flytipping incidents is as low as it can be. It’s unacceptable behaviour and we condemn it.”

The new report, which was due to be discussed by Bradford Council’s Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, (Sept 18) reveals the council will use high-tech cameras to catch flytippers in the act.

In 2017/18 there were 7,852 reports of fly tipping in Bradford district – including Keighley – up from 7,112 in 2016/17.

Comparing rates in Bradford to the rest of Yorkshire, the report reveals that in the 2016/17 year there was 22.8 incidents of fly tipping for each 1,000 people in Bradford. The next highest rate of fly tipping in Yorkshire was in Leeds, where the figure was 21.01.

The Yorkshire district with the lowest level of flytipping was Kirklees, which had just 0.64 incidents per 1,000.

Last year Bradford Council carried out 29 prosecutions or cautions, and issued 71 fixed penalty notices. Three vehicles used in flytipping were crushed.

Cameras have been placed in flytipping hotspots, and the report says income from fines will allow the council to buy more cameras.

The council have purchased 15 “covert” cameras that can be located in areas where CCTV cannot be installed.

The report adds: “The team is working on a project with Vodaphone and Council ICT to trial a new generation surveillance camera that operates using solar panels and sends images and alerts over the mobile phone network.

“This camera can be placed covertly at locations that don’t require electricity, therefore giving even greater flexibility for deployment. All captured images are recorded remotely on a ‘Cloud’ storage facility and images can be accessed remotely.

“The camera alerts the (enforcement) team via text whenever images are captured and these images can be streamed and viewed in real time.”