People who dump trash around the Island could be hauled before the courts with plans to install CCTV cameras at known trouble spots.

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott said during the last three days he had been in talks over how best to tackle the problem of illegal dumping.

He said he and officers had been studying the best ways to clamp down on the disgusting habbit, and he said, as a result, cameras may be installed to film and identify the culprits.

Mr. Scott spoke out after conservationist David Wingate complained to The Royal Gazette about truckloads of waste that had been dumped on Vesey Street in Devonshire.

Mr. Wingate said it was not the first time he had seen the quiet area strewn with people's unwanted garbage, and said action had to be taken.

He said: "I passed through there on Monday and there were two freshly dumped truckloads of trash. It was terrible. One of the loads had been so carelessly dumped, it was scattered across the road and traffic had to divert around it.

This is a chronic problem. People seem to think they can dump their trash whereever they like, rather than taking it to the proper disposal sites. I think it is time the issue was adequately addressed. People seem to get just a rap on the knuckles. It is not taken seriously.'' Mr. Scott said he was fully aware of the problems and was as eager as Mr.

Wingate to put a halt to it. He said people were prosecuted where possible, but sometimes providing the evidence was difficult.

The Minister said in the past there had been problems in identifying the owners of the rubbish, as well as proving that they were the ones who dumped it.

He said: "We do have legislative powers to act specifically concerning people who dump in the highways and by-ways.

"But we are thinking about using cameras in the process now because it is felt that with photographic evidence we will have a stronger case to take it to the court and get a conviction.

"We know illegal dumping is a problem in some areas. Vesey Street has been troubled before. But we are trying to get on top of it, and that is why we are anticipating taking some steps.

"I would say to people out there that if they are one of those dumping trash then they should smile next time they do it because it may be on the Works and Engineering cameras.'' What a mess: Dumpers of trash on Vesey Street could soon be caught on camera.