Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declared that fly-tippers will be forced to pay for the clean-up when they dump waste illegally, as he visited an illegal dump in West Yorkshire and outlined a crackdown on waste crimes.
National Crime Agency to Target Organised Waste Crime Networks
Burnham told broadcasters: “We’ve begun a much more networked approach to this, where we’re bringing the National Crime Agency in to work with the Environment Agency, increasing the penalties and bearing down now on the organised crime that lies behind some of what you see behind me.”
When asked why the National Crime Agency was involved, the prime minister said: “It’s building the intelligence as to who is behind this, the networks that are orchestrating what is a very serious crime, and then using the Proceeds of Crime Act to make them pay for the clean-up.”
Polluter-Pays Principle to Protect Public Finances
Burnham emphasised that the current situation is unsustainable, stating: “It cannot be right that we leave the situation to build, the public purse then exposed in relation to the clean-up. But actually we should be getting in much earlier, apprehending them, using all of the intelligence that comes through that investigation to make sure the polluter pays.”
The prime minister’s remarks underscore a shift toward proactive enforcement, leveraging the National Crime Agency’s intelligence capabilities to dismantle organised criminal networks responsible for illegal dumping. The Environment Agency will continue to play a key role in enforcement, with increased penalties serving as a deterrent.
