Man jailed for dumping asbestos waste at cemetery

CCTV cameras set up at Bedford's Foster Hill Road Cemetery captured Damien Barr dumping the waste

A man has been jailed for 12 months after admitting dumping asbestos in a cemetery.

Damian Barr, 36, from Gratton Road, Bedford, was prosecuted after he illegally disposed of the hazardous waste in and around a skip at Foster Hill Road Cemetery on 1 July 2022.

Bedford Borough Council's Enviro Crime Team took action after CCTV cameras, which were set up on the site following a number of fly-tipping incidents, caught him on camera.

He admitted fly-tipping and was sentenced at Luton Crown Court.

CCTV footage of the dumped waste was released on Bedford Borough Council's Caught on Camera web page

Conservative councillor Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant, portfolio holder for housing and regulatory services, said: "This case sends a clear message that fly-tipping will not be tolerated.

"The illegal dumping of waste, especially hazardous materials like asbestos, poses a significant risk to both public health and the environment."

She said the council would "continue to use all available resources, including CCTV and public engagement, to tackle fly-tipping and protect our communities".