Press release

Multi-agency days of action target Crawley and Reigate waste sites

Investigations to follow surprise early morning visits.

• From: Environment Agency
• Published: 11 December 2020
• Last updated: 11 December 2020 — See all updates

Scrap vans and trucks together with other waste were found in an old greenhouse during the raids

Waste sites, including 4 illegal waste sites, around Crawley and Reigate received surprise early morning visits last Friday (4 December) and Monday (7 December).

Officers from the Environment Agency, Reigate and Banstead, and Tandridge district councils and Crawley Borough Council, British Transport Police and Openreach joined forces to work together on the inspections.

These visits are part of a series of multi-agency days of action targeting poor performing businesses focusing on metal theft, including cables and catalytic converters.

The Environment Agency found 4 illegal waste sites and uncovered a number of incidents of poor compliance with waste permits. Investigations will now follow and appropriate action will be taken to improve compliance and the state of the sites, which could include enforcement action.

Matt Higginson, Environment Manager for the Environment Agency, said:

This should serve as a warning to those who would flout the law that we and our partners are still fighting to put a stop to waste crime and we won’t hesitate to take action.

To help avoid your waste ending up at an illegal waste site, we encourage you to ask for your waste collector’s waste carrier’s registration number and ask to see their waste transfer note, they must have these.

Joint investigations will continue with our partners and if convicted as a result of legal action, those responsible could face extensive fines and even prison sentences.

Anyone who suspects illegal waste activity is reminded to report it to our 24 hour hotline by calling 0800 80 70 60, or anonymously contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

You can check your waste collectors waste carriers registration at https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers or call 03708 506 506.

Earlier this year the Environment Agency and partners launched the Joint Unit for Waste Crime, aiming to stop serious and organised crime in the UK Waste Industry.

Published 11 December 2020
Last updated 11 December 2020 + show all updates

1. 11 December 2020

   Text change - 'raid' replaced with 'inspection'

2. 11 December 2020

   First published.