05 June 2023 , 19:30
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A council is asking drivers to check their dash-cams after barrels of industrial acid were dumped by ruthless flytippers near a slip road.
Newham Council in East London said 11 blue barrels containing hundreds of litres of the "high strength" chemical were found off Royal Docks Road in Beckton last week.
A council officer discovered the containers on Thursday (June 1) and London Fire Brigade attended the scene, describing the substance as a "potential hazard" - but was stable.
Members of the public have been urged to contact the local authority in case they saw a van or truck carrying the blue barrels near to the location on the day in question.
Cllr Amar Virdee, cabinet member for community safety and crime, blasted the incident as "disgraceful" and an "outrageous criminal act", reports MyLondon.
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They said: "This is an outrageous criminal act, whoever is responsible clearly has no regard for the safety of people who may have come into contact with this substance.
"Eleven barrels of this material were deliberately dumped in an area, which although isolated, is easily accessible to the public."
Cllr Virdee added: "In addition to disregard for public safety, Newham officers were diverted to the scene for hours to make it safe, and organise an emergency specialist team to remove the barrels, at a cost of thousands of pounds of council taxpayers' money.
"I have no doubt this disgraceful act was motivated by money and greed, either for profit or to avoid the costs of legitimate disposal. It is vital those responsible are caught and stopped from repeating their crimes."
Members of the public can contact Newham council on 0208 430 2000 or alternatively can report it on the council website. A report can also be made anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.