Westminster City Council is set to trial the use of artificial intelligence to tackle fly-tipping.
It has installed cameras in three fly-tipping hotspots where they will recognise suspected cases of fly-tipping and record vehicle registration plates.
The council will then contact the DVLA to get the vehicle owner's details and issue fixed penalty notices or start criminal proceedings.
Westminster Labour councillor Paul Dimoldenberg said the number of fly-tipping incidents in the borough had almost doubled recently and the council was determined to ‘get tough’.
According to official data, London had the highest average number of fly-tipping incidents in England last year with 46 incidents per 1,000 people.
London was also the only region that had an increase in the average number of incidents, with all other areas seeing a fall in cases.
Other councils are tackling the issue in different ways.
Croydon Council has launched a Don't Mess with Croydon campaign, set up to send a ‘firm message to anyone who blights our borough with litter’.
Lewisham Council is tackling fly-tipping as part of its waste management strategy and will be issuing on the spot fines for people caught offending.
