SUSPECTED flytippers have been stopped and searched by officers as part of a joint crackdown on waste offences.

North Yorkshire Police worked with councils including the City of York and Scarborough to stop and check vehicles as part of Operation Eyeball to tackle flytipping.

In York, the officers searched 23 vehicles to see if they were carrying waste and were licensed to do so.

Of those, 17 notices were served for the motorists to provide evidence of their license and further investigations were launched.

Superintendent Paula Booth, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “This operation shows that the selfish crime of flytipping will not be tolerated in our communities. There will be no let-up in our efforts, and we will continue to work closely with landowners and local authorities, sharing intelligence and information, to tackle this issue head-on.”