Two charged and van seized after fly-tipping incident near Sawbridgeworth
Household waste was dumped on farmland in East Herts
Two men have been charged in connection with a large fly-tip discovered in East Herts earlier this month.
The incident took place on Saturday 3rd January along Redricks Lane, near Sawbridgeworth. Police received a call at around 4:30pm reporting that household waste was being dumped on farmland.
Response team officers attended the scene and found a van stuck in mud next to a pile of rubbish, which included furniture and suitcases.
Two men were arrested and the van seized. The suspects, Luweweh Njie, 31, from Kings Langley, and Shevoy Burton, 24, from Greater London, have been charged and are due to appear at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on 6th February.
Sergeant David Miller, from the Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:
“Thanks to the vigilance and quick reporting from a member of the public, officers were able to attend and make swift arrests in connection with the incident.
“Fly-tipping has a big impact on landowners and local communities, and it’s an issue we take seriously.
“Charges have been secured and the case will now progress through the courts.”
Farming sector disruption
Gilston Crop Management, the operator of the affected land, highlighted the impact of fly-tipping on the farming community.
A spokesperson said:
“Dumping of waste on farmland causes significant disruption and damage, placing an added financial burden of thousands of pounds on an already struggling farming sector.
"This incident has not only taken up considerable time and physical effort to resolve, time that should be spent maintaining crops, but is also compounded by the fear it may happen again, highlighting the urgent need for stronger enforcement and community vigilance to protect our rural areas.”
Reporting and disposing waste responsibly
Police are urging community members to remain vigilant and report incidents promptly.
If you witness fly-tipping in progress, dial 999 and provide as much detail as possible about the people or vehicles involved.
For existing fly-tips, contact your local council.
Everyone has a legal responsibility to ensure waste, whether household or business-related, is disposed of properly. Failure to do so can result in prosecution, even if the waste is dumped by an unauthorised carrier on your behalf.
For more information on waste disposal and checking carrier credentials, visit Hertfordshire County Council’s website .