Four men have been sentenced for a year-long illegal waste dumping spree across six sites in London, following an investigation by the Environment Agency. CCTV footage captured the men breaking into sites and directing tipper trucks loaded with rubbish to dump illegally.
Sentences handed down
Patrick Doherty was jailed for 28 months, and Martin Ward for 18 months. Michael Ward, also known as Martin McCann, and Simon O'Donnell each received 14-month prison sentences suspended for two years. The men were found guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court of conspiracy to illegally dump controlled waste.
The criminal operation
The gang repeatedly dumped rubbish, including tyres and waste from house clearances and construction, over the course of a year. The Environment Agency obtained CCTV footage showing the men taking control of sites, directing tipper trucks, interfering with cameras, hiding their faces, and removing or covering vehicle registration plates to conceal their identities.
At one site in Imperial Way, Croydon, the landowner faced a clean-up bill of £300,000 after security cameras were smashed and a company representative was threatened and denied entry. At Station Road in Colliers Wood, the group demanded £5,000 from a site worker, threatening to fill the unit with waste. When the money was not paid, rubbish was piled five feet high, costing £15,000 to clear.
Investigation and identification
Despite attempts to hide their identities, investigators identified the men using nearby cameras, council CCTV, and police body-worn footage. Waste crime in the UK has escalated, with high-profile illegal tips causing public outrage, including a 150-metre-long dump near the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire and a 30,000-tonne heap in Hoads Wood, Kent. Officials warn that around a fifth of all rubbish is illegally managed, with gangs becoming increasingly sophisticated.
Government response
In response, the Government unveiled a zero-tolerance action plan to tackle the £1 billion problem. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds stated: "The actions of these shameless waste criminals are unacceptable and have rightly been punished. My message is simple – break the law by dumping waste and we will come after you. This Government is stepping up action, through our waste crime action plan, with new powers and more funding for the authorities and tougher punishments for criminals."
Matt Higginson, environment manager for the Environment Agency, said: "This verdict is justice for residents who have had to endure misery and environmental damage at the hand of this gang. We are laser-focused on tackling illegal waste crime and are stepping up action with better intelligence, faster interventions and naming and shaming rogue operators. I would urge anyone who suspects illegal waste activity to report it anonymously so we can tackle these crimes head on."
New enforcement measures
Under the plans, the Environment Agency will step up enforcement and intervene earlier, backed by an additional £45 million from the Government over the next three years. The agency plans to make greater use of powers to shut down illegal waste operations immediately, with up to 51 weeks in prison for operators who ignore restrictions. It will also suspend or revoke permits for rubbish handling where there is evidence of criminal activity, and create a new intelligence unit to hunt down criminals using tools ranging from aerial surveillance to financial data. The Government is also considering giving the agency police-style powers to search premises, seize assets, and arrest people suspected of waste crime without a warrant.
