Amendments put forward by the House of Lords that would strengthen enforcement action against fly-tipping and ensure a fairer approach for landowners who fall victim to this crime are yet to receive support from the government.
During a debate, Peers concluded that the current system is fundamentally unjust as landowners are penalised twice, both through the crime itself and through the requirement to pay for clean-up costs.
Co-signatories to the letter urged the Minister to either accept these amendments or for the government to bring forward its own.
The NFU signed the letter alongside the Countryside Alliance, CLA (Country Land and Business Association), NRCN (National Rural Crime Network) and Clean Up Britain.
What does the letter say?
The letter outlines the crucial amendments that would more severely punish offenders, deter others from fly-tipping, secure vital support for victims and bring about greater coordination between waste authorities and the police.
Amendments include improving guidance on cost recovery, introducing penalty points on the driving licences of those convicted, enabling the seizure of vehicles used in offences and placing a duty on local waste authorities for clean-up and cost recovery.
Some of these amendments are being considered as part of the government’s new Waste Crime Action Plan – plans that introduced a package of measures including new police-style powers for EA (Environment Agency) officers and ‘clean-up squads’, with a total of £45 million being invested over the next three years.
“We are calling on the government to urgently consider these amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill.”
NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt
However, securing these amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill would not only increase policing powers but ensure the victims of fly-tipping aren’t left shouldering the cost.
Costs of fly-tipping
This is not the first time calls for change have been raised in the House of Lords, as welcomed by NFU member Will Dickinson.
A fly-tipping victim himself, Will recently assisted an elderly farmer left with a bill of up to £50,000 for a 200-tonne fly tip left on his farm in Hertfordshire.
The hefty bill, which was taken care of after a kind-hearted stranger led a fundraising campaign, highlights the monumental costs associated with the crime.
This letter comes just one week after NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt chaired a roundtable discussion on securing fairer funding for rural police forces in tackling rural crime.
Following the sending of the letter, NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt said: “With more than 1.26 million reported fly-tips in England last year, fly-tipping is a serious criminal offence that imposes a relentless and costly blight on our countryside.
“Currently, private landowners are forced to shoulder the financial burden of waste crime, a crime that forces farmland out of use, poses a threat to wildlife and places an unfair financial and emotional strain on British farmers and growers.”
Tackling crime ‘at its source’
While acknowledging the reluctance of government to put further financial pressure on local authorities, the letter highlights that this transference of responsibility from the victim to local authorities will pass the baton onto those who have the power and the resources to change the narrative on fly-tipping.
Robyn said: “We are calling on the government to urgently consider these amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, as until the system tackles waste crime at its source, the unjust burden fly-tipping places on British farmers and growers will continue.”
The NFU will continue to track the progress of the Bill.
If you know or suspect illegal waste activity is taking place, report it anonymously to Crimestoppers: Give information | Crimestoppers or call 0800 555 111. The 24-hour incident hotline is also available on 0800 80 70 60.
