Council officers slapped £400 fines on fly-tippers this month in a crackdown on environmental crime in the heart of Islington.

In one incident, town hall workers used CCTV to identify the owner of a van used to dump cans of cooking oil in St Albans Place, off Upper Street.

They had been alerted by the Angel Business Improvement District (BID), and chief executive Christine Lovett warned: “We will not tolerate fly-tipping.

“The dumping of full oil cans was the scourge of businesses in Upper Street for a year.”

Three further fines were dished out. Council officials issued two fixed penalty notices after building waste was left in Berry Street, Clerkenwell, and another fine was given for an offence in Chapel Market.

All four fines were paid this month.

Cllr Claudia Webbe, Islington’s environment leader, said: “Most people who live and work in Islington take great pride in our borough.

“However, fly-tipping, which is selfish, unsightly, and dangerous, is still a problem. Islington deserves better.

“That’s why we became one of the first places in the country to issue fixed penalty notices.”

Under government guidelines the maximum penalty councils can issue is £400. This falls to £200 if a culprit pays within 10 days.

For persistent offenders fines can be up to £50,000 and could result in a prison sentence.

Unlike other environmental crimes, there are no restrictions on how councils can use the money raised from fly-tipping fines.

Cllr Webbe added: “These fixed penalty notices clearly show fly-tipping in Islington risks swift action and a hefty on-the-spot fine.”

Spot fines come after councils won new powers to tackle fly-tipping back in May. The move came after councils in England were hit with clear-up costs totalling nearly £50m between 2014 and 2015.

Speaking at the time, Local Government Association environment spokesman Cllr Martin Tett said: “Councils spend a vast amount each year tackling fly-tipping. This is money better spent on vital services.

“Not only does fly-tipping create an eyesore for residents, it is also a serious public health risk, creating pollution and attracting rats and other vermin.”

To report fly-tipping, call Islington Council on 020 7527 2000 or visit islington.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling/street-cleansing/fly-tipping