Interview under caution - what do I do?

[Rarity75]

I have received a letter today from the environment dept of the council. I am being accused of dumping rubbish on the street next to my house. It seems someone has taken the bin bags out of my wheelie bin and left them on the street! There was identifiable info in it so definitely my rubbish. Am shocked and worried that I will be prosecuted. Anyone have any advice?

I am also a health professional so any criminal conviction could affect my job. Have no idea how this could have happened and no 'proof' that I didn't do this. I was away the day it was found. Indeed I saw the offending bags very early in the morning that we left and thought look at that! So it must have happened the day before, after I had put the bins out. Really worried.

Wont it just be a fine rather than a criminal record? Was someone rumaging in your rubbish? Even if it was a criminal matter it is not one that would affect your job as long as you declare it unless they like a super tidy office!

if you were away on the day that might be worth something - do you have some proof of your absence. I would really hope that the legal system has better things to do than this.

as an aside, please buy a shredder. Never put anything with identifiable stuff on it into main rubbish. Not because you want to be a fly tipper, but to protect against ID theft.

if you were away on the day that might be worth something

I don't think it will prove anything - OP admits that the bags were already dumped at that point and she saw them, so she wasn't away when the bags were dumped.

What is your bin situation? Do you have a communal bin store or do you just leave bins at the side of the road? The former might make sense if someone removed your bags to put theirs in, the latter I can't think of what benefit someone would get out of removing your bags.

Any CCTV around your flats/street that might be useful?

To be honest, if you tell the truth, I can't see how they can prove that you ditched the bags any more than you can prove that you didn't.

I would be a bit worried that someone appears to have sought out your rubbish specifically and dumped it, though - I wonder what they were looking for. Definitely be careful what you are throwing away and start shredding documents.

Ah yes, sorry. But that point about proof is very useful.

You've only been accused of it. Can't you explain to them what you've said here, it sounds completely reasonable.

All of the bins from the houses that use the alley to a gardens put their bins in the same place. I have had a disagreement with my next door neighbour (over the dog pooing outside my gate), and my ex is currently in a battle over paying his half of shared debt. They are the only people I could imagine would want to get me in trouble! Also I don't know if all five bags were mine. One could have been taken from each bin if it was a random act of malicious behaviour. But if mine was the only one with an address in it then I'm stuffed.
There is no cctv in our area. It will be my word against their 'proof'.
Seriously considering legal representation but worried it makes me look guilty.