Four men sentenced for massive London fly-tipping spree after Environment Agency probe
Four men have been sentenced to prison for illegally dumping waste at six sites across London.
CCTV footage shows men entering areas and directing dump trucks loaded with garbage to offload them.
Patrick Doherty was sentenced to 28 months in prison and Martin Ward to 18 months.
Michael Ward, also known as Martin McCann, and Simon O’Donnell were each sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.
The decision comes after the men were found guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court of conspiracy to commit illegal disposal of controlled waste, following a year-long pattern of offending.
The Environment Agency said the criminal operation involved repeatedly dumping rubbish such as tires and waste in different locations from cleaning homes and construction sites over the course of a year.
As part of the investigation, the agency obtained CCTV footage showing the men taking control of the sites and diverting the dump trucks.
They are also seen tampering with security cameras, frequently hiding their own faces, and removing or covering up license plates in efforts to conceal their identities.
The landowner of a site on Imperial Way in Croydon is facing a £300,000 clean-up bill after security cameras were smashed and a company representative was threatened and refused entry, the Environment Agency said.
The Environment Agency said the group, on Station Road in Colliers Wood, told a site worker they either had to pay £5,000 or the unit would be filled with waste.
The watchman said that due to non-payment, rubbish was piled 1.5 meters high and cost £15,000 to clear.
The Environment Agency said that although they tried to hide their identities, its inspectors were able to identify the men after nearby cameras, council security cameras and police wear footage recorded their activities.
Waste crime in the UK has increased in recent years; High-profile illegal tip-offs, including a 150-metre-long dump near the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire and a 30,000-tonne pile at Hoads Wood conservation area in Kent, have provoked public outrage.
Authorities also warned that around a fifth of litter is managed illegally and the gangs behind this are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
In response, the Government has announced a new “zero tolerance” action plan to tackle the £1bn problem.
Environment Minister Emma Reynolds said: “The actions of these shameless waste criminals are unacceptable and have rightly been punished.
“My message is simple: Break the law by disposing of waste and we will come after you.
“This Government is stepping up action by giving authorities new powers, more funding and tougher penalties for offenders through our waste crime action plan.”
Matt Higginson, environment manager at the Environment Agency, said: “This decision is justice for the residents who have had to endure the misery and damage to the environment at the hands of this gang.
“We are laser focused on tackling illegal waste crime and are stepping up action with better intelligence, faster responses and naming and shaming rogue operators.
“I urge anyone who suspects illegal waste activity to report it anonymously so we can tackle these crimes head on.”
Under the plans, the Environment Agency will step up enforcement and intervene earlier, supported by an additional £45 million from the Government over the next three years.
The force plans to make greater use of powers that could immediately shut down an illegal waste operation and impose a prison sentence of up to 51 weeks on an operator who ignores the restriction.
It also said garbage handling permits would be suspended or canceled where there was evidence of criminal activity, and a new “intelligence unit” would be created to hunt criminals using tools ranging from aerial surveillance to financial data.
The government also intends to give the agency “police-style” powers; so officers can search premises, seize assets and arrest people suspected of waste crimes without a warrant.
