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Man jailed for dumping asbestos waste at cemetery

Bedford Borough Council CCTV image of a blue van, with a man at the back of it behind its open doors. You can just see the man's legs and a purple large skip with waste in it. In the distance are gravestones and trees.Bedford Borough Council
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.

Bedford Borough Council A large amount of waste, including a bucket, roof tiles, piping, cardboard, a car seat, and a plastic bag in a large purple skip in a cemeteryBedford Borough Council
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".

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