A 29-year-old man was arrested yesterday morning (12 October) at an address near Preston, Lancashire, during a joint operation involving Lancashire Police and the Environment Agency. He was questioned in connection with the illegal dumping of waste near Newcastle Airport in Callerton, Newcastle upon Tyne.
The man has been released on bail pending further inquiries. This arrest follows another made last week in Sunderland.
Arrests linked to three waste sites
The arrest was related to illegal waste dumping at the former Dewhirst site on Thorpe Road in Peterlee and Hart Quarry in Hartlepool. A 32-year-old man was also bailed pending further inquiries in that case.
Collectively, the three dumping sites contain thousands of tonnes of waste. The landowner has since cleared the Callerton site.
Government crackdown on waste crime
In August, the government announced plans to combat waste crime based on its Waste Crime Action Plan. This includes deploying more Environment Agency officers, significantly increasing fines, and implementing tougher sanctions for the most serious offences.
Gary Wallace, Area Environment Manager at the Environment Agency, said: "We’ve been relentless in our investigation into these sites and two men have now been arrested.
"We’ll continue to put every effort into taking action against those suspected of being involved.
"Illegal waste sites are a blight on our communities and the environment, and we’re determined to bring those behind them to justice."
Zero-tolerance approach
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said: "These arrests are an important step in achieving justice for those communities in the North East who have had to put up with the impacts of these appalling illegal waste sites.
"Through our crackdown, we are putting more officers on the frontline and driving faster enforcement and disruption of criminal activities.
"This government is taking a zero-tolerance approach to waste crime and this action shows we are delivering on our promise to bring these criminals to justice."
All three sites were reported to the Environment Agency over the summer. The Agency responded quickly and, in collaboration with landowners, shut down the sites and installed concrete blocks to prevent access.
Investigating officers conducted searches at these locations to gather evidence that could help identify those responsible for the illegal dumping.
Cost of waste crime
Illegally dumped waste poses a risk to communities and the environment and undermines businesses that dispose of waste responsibly. Additionally, it incurs significant costs for landowners. It is estimated that waste crime costs the UK over £1 billion every year.
The Environment Agency urges anyone with information about waste crime in the region, or anyone who observes suspicious activities—such as unusual heavy goods vehicle (HGV) movements onto disused or open land—to get in touch.
Landowners are urged to ensure they check any empty land and property regularly to make sure it’s secure, using secure barriers or concrete blocks to prevent vehicle access. They should also consider installing CCTV where appropriate, as they can be liable for illegal waste dumped on their land.
People are urged to report illegal dumping, suspicious waste movements or burning, unlicensed operators, or unusually cheap disposal offers to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or the Environment Agency incident line on 0800 807060.
