Government plans police-style powers for Environment Agency waste crackdown

Ministers plan new enforcement powers for the Environment Agency to target organised waste crime and fly-tipping. 

Under a proposed zero-tolerance approach, ministers are looking to extend powers from the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2012 to the agency and its enforcement officers. 

If implemented, the move would make the Environment Agency one of the few organisations with such powers, suggesting waste crime is being treated as a major form of organised crime.

The proposal comes ahead of the government’s forthcoming Waste Crime Action Plan, which is expected to outline tougher measures to tackle offences ranging from fly-tipping to large-scale illegal waste sites. 

Ministers are also considering whether enforcement bodies should be able to share information with banks and finance companies.

‘Waste crime is a disgrace,’ Emma Reynolds, environment secretary, said. ‘It blights our countryside and communities, damaging our environment and economy.

‘That is why we are taking decisive action. We’re giving the Environment Agency the police-like powers they need to stop waste criminals in their tracks and bring those responsible swiftly to justice.’ 

Philip Duffy, chief executive of the Environment Agency, added: ‘Waste crime causes misery across communities and we have significantly stepped up our response to it already. But we are not standing still.

‘While having more boots on the ground is important in tackling these criminal networks, we also need to make sure our officers have as many powers as possible to bring them down.’

News of the proposed powers comes as the government is also considering taking driving licenses off motorists caught throwing rubbish from their vehicles. 

Ministers say the measures, which could also be included in the new Waste Crime Action Plan, are designed to deter people from dumping rubbish in public spaces including high streets, roads and community areas. 

In the UK, people can be disqualified from driving if they build up 12 or more points on their license within a three year period. 

The government said around £78bn is being made available to council budgets in England this year, as part of the first multi-year funding settlement for local authorities in more than a decade, helping fund key services including tackling fly-tipping.

Image: Alfonso Navarro/UnSplash 

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