Illegal Waste Organised Crime 2025-11-17

Question

Will Ministers issue a directive for urgent clearance of the illegal dump in his constituency before it is too late? Will they undertake an independent review of the Government’s response to waste crime?

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Does she agree that the Environment Agency must look at the use of plastic beads in waste water treatment plants, which poses a serious risk to wildlife?

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What analysis of reform are they proposing for the Environment Agency? What additional support do the Government give to tackle huge dumps like in Oxfordshire?

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Can she remind the House of tools that police and local authorities already have and what more can Welsh and UK Governments do to help Newport council?

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Waste crime is blighting rural communities, costing the UK economy £1 billion a year. It has been described as the “new narcotics” by a former chief executive of the Environment Agency. Will she support Liberal Democrat amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill which would designate serious and organised waste crime as a strategic policy threat?

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Notwithstanding what the Minister has said, the status quo is clearly failing. How will she ensure that we finally start holding to account all those who trash our environment?

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The number of fly-tipping incidents per day is 3,157. What assurance can the Minister give me that my constituents in villages on the northern fringe of Bromsgrove will be protected from cross-border crime?

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My constituency is on the edge of the west midlands conurbation, and has plenty of country lanes. Can she assure us that this Government will ensure that the Environment Agency has the resources to go after those who are destroying our precious environment?

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Penn cricket club had contaminated soil illegally deposited on its grounds. Despite investigations, there is no end in sight. What support can the Government give to prevent delays?

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Rural police forces are the worst-funded in the country, making it harder for them to deal with countryside crime. Will she work with the Home Office on including tackling organised waste crime as a strategic priority?

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Can she reassure my residents that the Government are supporting local authorities so they can fulfill their obligations to tackle environmental crime?

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What assessment has the Minister made of the ability and capacity of the Environment Agency to control toxic emissions from waste incinerators?

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Does the Minister agree that fundamentally the taxpayer should not be paying for organised crime; the criminals should be punished?

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Please can the Minister make sure that fines meet the crime so they are penalised in their pockets, where they deserve it most?

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Hoad’s Wood in my constituency was mentioned by the hon. Member for Bicester and Woodstock, where criminal gangs have dumped 30,000 tonnes of waste over a period of six months without being stopped or apprehended. The Minister has been having many meetings about it; does she have an understanding on who is responsible in such scenarios to stop the criminals from repeating this?

Question

There is a mega illegal dump on Raspberry Hill Lane in my constituency, with accessory dumps nearby evading police and the Environment Agency. This not only destroys the countryside but also strains legitimate waste processing businesses such as Sweeep, Countrystyle, MVV and DS Smith. Will the Minister increase capacity of Environment Agency and the police to handle this problem by providing more resources?

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A 200-tonne illegal dump in my constituency left a farmer with a £40,000 clean-up bill and the risk of criminalisation if he cannot clear it quickly. No single agency takes responsibility for investigating large-scale incidents on private land; does the Minister agree that this enforcement gap is completely unacceptable? Will the Government establish a single accountable authority to investigate waste crime on private land?

Question

Brambletree wharf in my constituency has been blighted by an illegal tip for years. A council enforcement notice recently expired without the site being cleared, yet I was informed that unfortunately the Environment Agency will not be prosecuting those responsible but leaving it to the local council. What steps will the Minister take to ensure that the Environment Agency uses all its powers against such criminal activity?

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While dumping and criminal gangs are one part of the issue, businesses that seek to circumvent legitimate waste disposal routes by passing it on to illegal dumpers is another. Can the Minister say more about what action might be taken to educate businesses on their responsibilities for waste and how to prosecute not just the dumpers but those producing waste?

Question

In 2023-24, there were 1.15 million fly-tipping incidents across England, with about 47,000 classified as tipper-load lorry sized or industrial. A tip fire occurred in Dewsbury in early 2012, burning for four weeks and costing over £1.2 million to manage and clear the waste. What resources are the Government providing to Kirklees council to help keep waste and recycling centres maintained and open?

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A contact of mine who used to work in environmental health tells me there is a misplaced perception that Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 prohibits surveillance of fly-tipping hotspots as directed surveillance. Could the Minister look into updating this statutory code of practice to provide examples for fly-tip surveillance?

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Residents in Woodcote area of my constituency have been living opposite an illegal waste dump for years, despite all photographic and video evidence produced. Can the Minister look into what level of proof is required to take action against such sites?

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It took four years before statutory bodies did anything about waste dumping in Hoad’s Wood near my constituency after it was originally reported. Can the Minister speak with local authorities such as mine to ensure immediate actions are taken against people committing these crimes?

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Devon county council received almost 5,000 reports of fly-tipping last year. Will the Minister speak with her counterparts at the Home Office about bolstering rural affairs teams in police constabularies such as Devon and Cornwall?

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There is a serious fly-tipping issue in Birmingham due to the bin strikes. Residents are calling for CCTV cameras, but the city council has no funding available. Will this Government give additional resourcing to Birmingham city council for enforcement measures?

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In Lichfield, a fly-tip dump blocked access to properties requiring emergency services, including one resident who needs chemotherapy. Will the Government introduce an aggravating factor for such situations to ensure larger sentences for waste criminals?

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Fly-tipping costs £392 million annually and causes disunity between communities. Will the Minister agree to give more resources to local councils for enforcement measures such as cameras, prosecuting offenders, and imposing custodial sentences?

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Fly-tipping affects both urban areas and beautiful countryside like Morecambe. What action are the Government taking to tackle this crime?

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The Mobuoy illegal dump in Londonderry revealed an enormous operation involving criminals who buried vast amounts of waste. Will the Minister commit to liaising with the Northern Ireland Assembly on how better to work together for investigations across the UK?

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The successful IDIOT campaign in Stoke-on-Trent has seen an increase in fines and a reduction in fly-tipping. Does the Minister agree that this is an apt title for such campaigns?