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Fly-tipping purple dinosaur caught on CCTV dumping bin bags

The resident was seen to be wearing a purple dinosaur costume as he waddled the streets of Southend and dumped two bin bags on the seafront that is monitored by CCTV

[The Woodland Trust of a huge pile of fly-tipped rubbish at Theydon Bois, Essex]

The dinosaur was caught fly-tipping(Image: PA)

A fly-tipping purple dinosaur has been caught on camera as locals race to unmask the culprit. The criminal was captured on CCTV dumping two bin bags while costumed up as a giant prehistoric beast.

The unusual offence was captured on CCTV in Southend, Essex, after the local council installed cameras on the seafront after a series of fly-tipping incidents in 2023.

In the footage, posted by the news website Your Southend, the fly-tipper is seen waddling across the street wearing an inflatable dinosaur suit, before dumping two bin bags and heading back the way they came. As the perpetrator cannot be identified due to the disguise, they have avoided a 400 fine for dumping rubbish in a public space in the Essex town.

The perp even appeared to be conscious of the camera, brazenly stopping to swing around a lamp post for show before heading off into the night, knowing their disguise wouldn't be rumbled.

The person who shared the video with the website said: "I couldn't believe my eyes. It was the night before bin day too. Clearly, he is struggling with the new bin rules."

Another resident, awoken by the commotion, said: "Well, Barney the Dinosaur was clearly up to some mischief last night."

[The dinosaur was seen dumping the bin bags]

The dinosaur was seen dumping the bin bags

Your Southend has launched an 'appeal' to find the criminal, including a tongue in cheek wanted poster detailing "height: approx 2 metres, distinctive little T. rex arms" and "likes to swing round lampposts".

Despite locals seeing humour in the act, fly-tipping is a serious criminal offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and anybody caught can face a prison sentence of five years or face an unlimited fine.

What constitutes fly-tipping

• Dumping household waste, garden waste, rubble, or tyres in public or private areas.
• Leaving large items, multiple bags of waste, or mattresses next to street recycling points or outside charity shops and closed recycling centres.
• Disposing of commercial or industrial waste unlawfully.
• The illegal disposal of controlled waste, which includes both liquid and solid materials

What to do if you witness fly-tipping

• Do not approach: Do not confront the individuals. Your safety is the priority.
• Gather evidence: Make a note of the date, time, and location. Document descriptions of the people involved and any vehicles, including the make, colour, and registration number.
• Report it: Report the incident to your local council. You can often do this online through the GOV.UK website or the local authority's app.
• Do not touch: Do not touch any of the tipped waste yourself.

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