Crimestoppers
Fearless
Help the Environment Agency stop the big - bad - wolf!
Hi, I’m Steph, and I am a Team Leader for Intelligence, within the Environment Agency National Enforcement Service.
Sometimes when I tell people who I work for, they automatically think of our flood management role. But that is only a proportion of what we deal with on a day-to-day basis.
We are also responsible (in England) for:
- regulating major industry and waste
- treatment of contaminated land
- water quality and resources
- fisheries
- inland river, estuary and harbour navigations
- conservation and ecology
Today, I’d like to tell you about our role to regulate the management of waste.
We are responsible for regulating the waste industry, ensuring operators run their sites in accordance with the permits we issue them, and stopping criminals illegally dealing in waste.
Assumptions are sometimes made that we deal with fly-tipping, which is misinformation. Local councils are responsible for dealing with small scale fly-tipping, that’s anything under 20 tonnes or less than a lorry-load.
How we work to stop waste criminals spoiling our environment
Our enforcement work deals with large scale waste crime; illegal waste sites; large scale illegal dumping (multiple loads of waste deposited) and illegal export of wastes. Much of this crime is cross cutting through to high criminality of other types, including dealing in drugs and firearms – these are serious organised crime groups.
Our enforcement work happens locally, nationally, and even internationally in our bid to close the net on illegal operators who take business away from legitimate waste businesses, and cause harm to our environment and, in the case of illegal waste export, cause harm to other countries' environments.
We have a wide range of powers, and our intelligence hubs comprise of experienced Analysts, Intelligence Officers, and Researchers, who have access to various computer systems to help build a picture of how these groups operate. We work alongside many other enforcement agencies to target the most serious offenders.
I am proud to be part of that team turning information into intelligence that directs our frontline officers’ action to prevent, disrupt and stop serious waste crime, wherever it is happening. Our intelligence also provides a deeper understanding of what criminals are deliberately doing to our inherited rural landscapes.
How you can work with us to protect our environment
Public concern about the environment and climate change is on the increase. The August 2023 Ipsos Issues Index reveals that one in four Britons see the environment as an important issue for the country. This is encouraging as we all depend on a healthy environment for our own health and wellbeing.
Signs you could be witnessing waste crime
Remember, the environment cannot help itself, so we encourage the public to report anything suspicious, such as lots of lorry movements in and out of a site where there is no official signage, or farmers who are targeted and persuaded to bury waste on their land, or simply offered cash to house waste before offenders vanish.
- Big: Bigger than a lorry-load (more than 20 tonnes) and looks like it could be illegal.
- Bad: Looks like it contains dangerous substances like asbestos, or involves other forms of criminality, such as firearms, or drugs.
- Wolf: Destroying everything in its path, including legitimate businesses and the environment.
Current serious rural crime issues are wide-ranging and extensive and, for farmers and landowners who are dumped on, it’s costly, as they often have to foot the bill for clearing the waste.
With 13 million hectares of land to regulate telling us what you know about those who break the law really helps us protect people, business, and the environment.
If you have information about waste crime or those who are committing large scale fly tipping, you can tell Crimestoppers what you know, completely anonymously. I know from my day-to-day work, this information can often make a difference once it has been shared with us.
Thank you for helping us protect our environment for today and the future.
find out about crimestoppers' new rural crime 2023 campaign
more information about serious and organised waste crime
