South Norfolk Council (SNC) has deployed hidden cameras at known hotspots in the district following approval of powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).

The legislation, which was originally designed to tackle terrorism and organised crime, will allow the council to spy on known fly-tipping locations across the district.

A large pile of waste found fly-tipped off the A140 in Norfolk last year (Image: South Norfolk Council)

While cabinet documents state that there was a “very low” number of incidents in the last financial quarter, the council has battled extensive fly-tipping in recent years.

Between 2024 and 2025, 729 fly-tips were reported to the authority. 

While some offenders have been prosecuted - including three people arrested last month after 1,200 tonnes of rubbish were found dumped on land in Stockton - numerous incidents have remained unsolved. 

Among them is a massive mound of waste dumped between the Norwich South recycling centre and Brooks Green traveller site last summer.

An investigation failed to find who was responsible for a massive mound of waste on land next to the Brooks Green traveller site in Harford, near Norwich (Image: Mike Page)

Despite extensive investigations into the matter, neither the council or landowner was able to track down any offenders. 

Locals and parish councils have also been urged to report suspected dumping sites to help direct enforcement teams.

This is not the council’s first use of the powers to tackle fly-tipping.

Operation Snake, which used covert cameras to monitor one known fly-tipping site, was approved in October 2024 and ran until January 2025.

The council has demanded thousands in fines in recent years for fly-tipping incidents (Image: South Norfolk and Broadland Councils)

However “insufficient evidence” meant no prosecutions were made. 

The latest operation forms part of a joint decision from Broadland and SNC to continue using RIPA powers against crime.

Broadland has had attempts to use covert cameras to investigate fly-tipping rejected by magistrates in the past, but has implemented the legislation more broadly for other operations.

Last year it used the powers to trawl social media accounts and conduct undercover investigations into private-hire taxi drivers.

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