• Newham Council appeals for help to catch criminals who abandoned dangerous chemicals in the borough
Newham Council is appealing to the public, and motorists to help catch those responsible for dumping hundreds of litres of, what is thought to be high strength industrial acid, on a slip road off Royal Docks Road in Beckton on Thursday 1 June.
Eleven large barrels of a substance, thought to be acid, were identified by a Newham Council officer and the scene, which is isolated, was attended by London Fire Brigade who confirmed the substance was a potential hazard, but stable.
Councillor Amar Virdee, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Crime said; “This is an outrageous criminal act, whoever is responsible clearly has no regard for the safety of people who may have come into contact with this substance.
“Eleven barrels of this material were deliberately dumped in an area, which although isolated, is easily accessible to the public.
“In addition to disregard for public safety, Newham Officers were diverted to the scene for hours to make it safe, and organise an emergency specialist team to remove the barrels, at a cost of thousands of pounds of council taxpayers’ money.
“I have no doubt this disgraceful act was motivated by money and greed, either for profit or to avoid the costs of legitimate disposal. It is vital those responsible are caught and stopped from repeating their crimes.”
Newham Council is appealing to anyone who saw a van, or truck carrying the distinctive blue barrels in the vicinity of Royal Docks Road on Thursday to contact Newham Council on 0208 4302000 or via the Council website here Report fly-tippers – Fly-tipping: Reporting and removal – Newham Council
Officers are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have dashcam footage which may have captured the incident.
You can make a report anonymously at Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
