James Bond-style spy cameras will be hiding in wait to catch law-breakers.

The tiny cameras are small enough to fit in a can of cola and will be used to film illegal activity, day or night.

Babergh Council officers are being trained in covert operations before they use the miniature devices.

Jo Hart, technical officer for the council, said: "Colleagues have taken the mickey a bit. They've called me Q and they have been heard to hum the James Bond theme as we walk down the corridor with the equipment."

One camera has a lens the size of a pinhole and can be placed in, for example, a box of tissues. The other is the size of a bullet.

They will be used to fight flytipping across the district.

Hidden up a tree or nestled among rubbish the £7,000 cameras will record any movement – catching tippers red-handed.
Ms Hart said she hoped to have cameras out in the field within weeks, helping bring action against tippers.

Flytipping carries a maximum fine of £50,000.

"We were funded under the council's crime and disorder reduction partnership, so we will also use the cameras to detect and prosecute other crimes after our initial trial period," she said.

Although the cameras are tiny the computer "brain" behind them is suitcase-sized and needs to be hidden underground when operating "in the field".

After monitoring the high-quality video recordings the council can use the film to bring a prosecution.

Technical assistant Daniel Whymark, who is also being trained to use the system, said: "We can leave it at a hot-spot and then get images of the people tipping, or their vehicles. We can then download the images and reset the system remotely."

He added people should not see this as a Big Brother-style invasion of privacy. "We have been trained in the legality of surveillance and we have to make a case for each time we want to use the cameras," said Mr Whymark.

Flytipping in Babergh costs thecouncil taxpayer £17,000 last year, with around one tonne of dumped rubbish being collected every week.

Malcolm Firth, the council's head of environmental services, said: "I know these cameras are going to be extremely successful in the war against these people who assume it is okay to dump their rubbish wherever they please."

If you have information about fly-tipping or a complaint about illegally dumped rubbish call the council's hotline: 01473 825890.

How you can help
We need you to tell us if any of our Seven Social Sins blights your area. Get in touch and we'll aim to get something done.

We also want you to come up with your own ideas for practical help – maybe a litter blitz.

Meanwhile, the Free Press is also running a vote to find out which of the sins our readers hate most:

Email: mark.crossley@sudburytoday.co.uk
Write: Seven Social Sins, Free Press, Borehamgate, Sudbury CO10 2EE. Enclose the form opposite
Phone: Newsdesk, 01787 375271