A total of £20,000 seized from criminals during police operations will be given to landowners and farmers to clear up fly-tipping.

The pilot project will focus on cleaning up fly-tipping sites in Broxbourne Borough and Three Rivers District.

The police gathered the money by using the Proceeds of Crime Act which allows them to seize funds used in crimes such as money laundering.

Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd said: “This pilot allows funds from the proceeds of crime to be used for positive effect to remove fly tipping, target known hot-spots and advise landowners and farmers on improved security.

As part of the commissioner’s Community Safety and Criminal Justice Plan, he pledged to investigate the potential of using money recovered from criminals to be put to use.

He said: “I’m pleased to see it being trialled in these two areas - Fly-tipping is a serious crime, and it has a significant impact on our community.

“It blights the countryside and causes substantial costs for farmers and landowners to clear the waste and poses a danger to livestock and wildlife.”

The pilot is expected to run until the end of the year.

Duncan Jones, Partnership Development Manager and chairman of the Hertfordshire Fly Tipping Group, said: “This latest initiative is another good example of how the relevant Hertfordshire agencies such as local authorities and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner are working together to deliver new initiatives to tackle fly-tipping.”