Our environmental and trading standards teams have carried out a number of initiatives to help protect consumers and residents across Medway.
Recent examples of the work from the teams include seizing illegal tobacco, preventing repeated fly-tipping and the destruction of seized vehicles which were used in fly-tipping.
Cllr Alex Paterson, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Community Safety and Enforcement, said: “I would like to thank our hardworking council officers, as well as our partners like Kent Police, for their tireless work to help protect residents. These examples show the varied things our teams work on to protect consumers, our environment and make sure people are following the rules.
“Our message to anyone who doesn’t think they have to follow the rules is clear – if we catch you, we will always follow through with enforcement whenever possible – whether that is seizing goods or vehicles, issuing fines or following up with prosecution through the courts.”
Illegal tobacco seized
On Tuesday, 15 July, members of Medway Council’s Trading Standards team were joined by officers from Kent Police to carry out checks on a number of shops in Chatham.
The joint operation followed a number of test purchases being made at shops across Chatham, and resulted in almost 1,400 packets of illegal cigarettes and 4.4kg of illegal tobacco being seized from three shops.
Following the seizures, the evidence and details of each shop were passed to HMRC, which has the power to issue a Fixed Monetary Penalty Notice of up to £10,000.
This work formed part of Clear, Hold, Build, a joint initiative between Medway Council, Kent Police and other partner agencies, to target and remove those responsible for causing problems in a particular area and ensure a safer, more peaceful environment for everyone else.
You can report sales of illegal tobacco on our website.
Successful prosecution for repeated fly-tipping
On 11 December 2023, one of our Street Scene enforcement officers attended a report of waste being left near Buttermere Close.
Looking through the waste, they were able to link it to a property on Hazlemere Drive, Gillingham. A Community Protection Warning (CPW) was issued to Julie Smith, 62, for putting refuse out early on 14 December 2023.
On 30 January 2024 waste was found left at the same location near Buttermere Close and linked to the same property. A Community Protection Notice (CPN) was then issued to Mrs Smith on 1 February 2024.
On 22 March 2024 a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) was issued for failure to comply with a CPN when waste was found at the same location once again.
The FPN went unpaid, so the case was heard at Medway Magistrates’ Court on 15 July 2025. The case was proved in absence and Mrs Smith was ordered to pay a total of £1,216.
Waste being left out early can cause unnecessary obstructions, litter, attract vermin and more. You can report rubbish being left out early on our website.
Seized vans taken away
Our Environmental Enforcement Team had previously seized four vehicles which were all used in either fly-tipping or the unlicensed carriage of waste.
No valid claims were made by any of the vehicle owners within the statutory timeframe, so the team has now arranged for all four vehicles to be destroyed, with parts being recycled where possible.
Fly-tipping is unsightly, presents possible hazards to the public, can pollute our land and waterways and costs taxpayer money to clear away. Residents are reminded that all waste must be dealt with by a registered waste carrier, which you can check online. If you do not use a registered waste carrier you could face prosecution under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Find out more about Trading Standards and environmental enforcement in Medway.