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UK to Add Licence Points for Fly-Tipping in Government U-Turn

Ministers move to hit offenders through their licences to deter a surge in illegal dumping.

Overview

  • The government, which detailed the shift Monday, will let courts add three to nine penalty points to a driver's record for fly-tipping under its Waste Crime Action Plan.
  • Drivers who reach 12 points within three years face disqualification, and new drivers can lose their licences at six points under standard rules.
  • Courts will be able to give nine points for a single dumping incident, creating the risk of an immediate loss of licence for recent passers.
  • The plan adds up to 20 hours of unpaid clean-up work for offenders under cautions that avoid prosecution if conditions are met.
  • Conservatives say Labour adopted their March proposal and still press for police vehicle-seizure powers, while ministers cite new guidance for councils, as Defra reports 1.26 million incidents in 2024/25, up 9 percent.