Criminal gangs face fresh crackdown over illegal dumping sites

Criminal gangs face fresh crackdown over illegal dumping sites Criminals will no longer be able to dodge the rules by buying up a legitimate waste business, with new powers to let officers block bad actors from getting a permit in the first place Rogue traders face being driven out of the waste sector under a fresh crackdown on organised crime. Criminals will no longer be able to dodge the rules by buying up a legitimate waste business, with new powers to let officers block bad actors from getting a permit in the first place. Strengthened powers will also restrict their access to the dumping grounds they create that leads to these huge waste sites. The length of restriction notices will be extended to at least seven days, while restriction orders will now last for at least 12 months, blocking criminals from accessing these sites for longer. Waste management was famously the cover used by Tony Soprano in the hit show The Sopranos, when he was in fact a mafia boss. Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said: "Criminals have been playing the system for too long – using fake IDs to move waste or operating under shell companies – that has meant they have evaded detection and made easy money. "Legitimate waste operators have had to compete with criminals who cut corners, dodge taxes and dump toxic waste in our fields, rivers and communities. That's not just unfair, it's dangerous, and it's a stain on an industry that plays a vital role in this country's environmental future. This ends now. “We're closing in at every point of the waste journey, from who can get a permit in the first place to day-to-day waste movement. We will close every loophole they are exploiting and shut down their access for good. “By tightening who can hold a permit and who can be stopped from getting one, we are bearing down on the criminal gangs turning over millions of pounds at the expense of our environment and honest businesses.” There will also be a bigger role for the National Crime Agency, with enhanced intelligence sharing, mentoring and specialist support with the Environment Agency. Ministers say the NCA’s experience in tackling organised crime can help dismantle the criminal networks in the waste sector. Last week the PM announced fines for criminal gangs who dump illegally dump mountains of rubbish will rise by 16 times from £300 to £5,000. Under the latest crackdown, Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) issued by the Environment Agency are set to rise from £300 to £5,000. Offences could include the unauthorised disposal of waste or failing to treat it correctly.