‘Wanted’ posters showing fly-tippers caught in the act have been put up to try and identify criminals and keep streets tidier.

Brent Council launched the campaign last week in response to “residents’ anger” that fly-tipping is blighting the borough.

The aim is to help catch those responsible for illegal rubbish dumping and punish them accordingly.

The posters will also be placed on the council’s website on a monthly basis to reach a wider audience.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council, said: “Brent is a fantastic place and most residents absolutely love where they live and take pride in our neighbourhoods, but a minority of individuals do not.

“No-one wants a pile of rubbish dumped on their street and the individuals doing this are not being fair to the rest of us.

This campaign is all about ramming home the message that illegal rubbish dumping is not acceptable.

“From now on, if our cameras spot people dumping rubbish illegally, we will ask the rest of the community to tell us who they are and then take them to court on the community’s behalf.”

Government statistics showed that, in 2018/19, the council had to deal with the third-highest number of fly-tipping incidents – 24,000 – in England.

It took enforcement action, which includes warning letters and fixed penalty notices, in 6,632 of these cases and spent £1,200 on clearing up three ‘significant or multi-load’ fly-tips during this period.

Cllr Krupa Sheth, responsible for the environment at Brent Council, urged the public to help in its battle against fly-tipping by “helping to identify the culprits”.

The council explained that anonymous information can be given at waste.enforcement@brent.gov.uk or on 020 8937 4994.