Lib Dems demand answers on fly tipping prosecutions

An alarming drop off in prosecutions and fixed penalty notices must be addressed, says Oldham’s Lib Dem group leader Sam Al-Hamdani, who has ensured a full investigation into the problems. 

With just one prosecution for fly tipping in the last municipal year, and a near 50% drop in fixed penalty notices (FPNs) since 2023/24, the Liberal Democrats have asked for a full investigation into the problems addressing the town. 

Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “I’m really proud of the people across the area who have taken it on themselves to really look after our streets. But they are fighting against what seems to be an increasing attitude from people who seem to think littering doesn’t matter. That has to end.

“The Labour administration’s Don’t Trash Oldham scheme seems to have utterly failed to change the culture that has sadly become all too common. We need to step back and work out how to actually make a difference.”

The Council has agreed to the Liberal Democrats request for a scrutiny investigation into how resources are being spent in this area, how prosecutions and FPNs can be better used to cut fly tipping, and how the Council can better engage to change the behaviour of those doing the tipping, whether that is early engagement or enforcement crackdowns.

Lib Dem Councillor Dave Murphy added: “I’m sick and tired of seeing our streets left in a mess. We have award-winning individuals and local groups, but that’s not enough. We need an effective Council, targeting its resources to get the most out of them, and that’s why the Lib Dems are getting the work done to make that happen.”

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Figures on fixed penalty notices issues for littering in Oldham over the past five years, from a Freedom of Information request:

2021/22 – 81
2022/23 – 52
2023/24 – 96
2024/25 – 48
2025/26 – 51

FOI figures on fly tipping reports and prosecutions in the last four years:

2022/23: 5,672 incidents - 27 prosecutions
2023/24: 5,022 incidents - 14 prosecutions
2024/25: 5,959 incidents - 6 prosecutions
2025/26: 6,742 incidents - 1 prosecution