THE environmental watchdog is deploying drones to fight lockdown dumping, it has emerged.
Terry A'Hearn of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) is ramping up its use of the flying spycams to fight the increase in fly-tipping.
Refuse centres have only just reopened, with long queues reported at some sites.
A'Hearn said there have been more instances of unauthorised dumping in recent weeks.
The practice has been linked to organised crime gangs.
Appearing before Holyrood's Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee, he said the agency had been using drones because lockdown restricted the number of in-person visits to likely dump sites.
A'Hearn said: "I won't give much detail on some of the things that might lead to enforcement, because I might jeopardise the enforcement.
"We said at the start of the lockdown that we would be using a variety of techniques. We have intelligence relationships with authorities such as the police, we have the capacity to use drones and other techniques, which we had been using previously but we've accelerated and used more because we've got less ability to get out there."
Later in the session, A'Hearn said the lockdown had actually shown the watchdog there are more effective ways to ensure compliance.
He said: "We actually think that, because we've started doing that a bit more in the last couple of months, there is more effective ways, even than site visits that might give us quite significant new evidence that can really approve our ability to ensure compliance and enforcement."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel