A community litter picking group has renewed calls for number plate recognition technology to be used to catch criminals, following the discovery of a fly-tipped sofa last week.

Llangattock Litter Pickers is calling for Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to be used on the Hafod Road.

The single track road, which runs from near Brynmawr to Llangattock Hillside, has suffered from the scourge of fly-tipping in the past, with last week’s discovery among a host of incidents over the recent months.

The sofa was dumped alongside other household items on a verge off what is known locally as ‘tram road’ near Hillside, Llangattock.

The culprits were seen by a member of the public dumping the waste out of the back of a ‘white transit van’ on May 8, before pulling bandanas over their faces when spotted.

A spokesperson for Llangattock Litter Pickers said: “Is it any wonder such criminal activity is taking place when shameful inactivity by Heddlu Dyfed-Powys Police Gwent Police has seen years of lack of ANPR camera on road despite numerous requests for ANPR to be re-installed?

“The criminals out there in society have come to know that when it comes to the area this is the only route in and out that does not have ANPR present on the road.”

ANPR technology is used to help detect, deter and disrupt criminality at a local, force, regional and national level.

As a vehicle passes an ANPR camera, its registration number is read and instantly checked against database records of vehicles of interest. Police officers can intercept and stop a vehicle, check it for evidence and, where necessary, make arrests.

However, a spokesperson for Gwent Police explained that ANPR cameras would not be helpful for this kind of offence and fly-tipping should be reported to the council.

The spokesperson for the force said: “ANPR cameras capture static images rather than video - so as a force we don’t use this technology for this kind of situation.

“An ANPR camera will catch the vehicle going past but as it captures static images, it won’t be able to prove that they fly-tipped.”

“The technology is typically used for other offences where a vehicle can be tracked, but would not be useful in this scenario.

“Llangattock Litter Pickers could speak to their community council and Powys County Council about installing CCTV in one of the hot spots - this would be more beneficial than calling for ANPR technology to be used.”

A spokesperson for Powys County Council said: “The council received a report of fly-tipping in Llangattock last week. The rubbish has been dumped on an area of private land, not council owned or public highway. While working to contact the landowner, we have made arrangements to pick up the fly-tipped waste in this instance, as a gesture of good will.

“We will endeavour to work with the proprietor to discourage future fly-tipping in the area. Anyone with information that could lead to the identification of the irresponsible culprit, is urged to contact the council or police with the details.”

Over the weekend, a burnt out car was also discovered nearby, along the same stretch of road near Llangattock.

The vehicle was dumped off the ‘tram road’ on Saturday evening, before being torched on Sunday.