Two Men Arrested After Being Caught Fly-Tipping Waste in Essex Field
Two men have been arrested after they were caught red-handed dumping waste in a field in Essex. The incident occurred at Birch Field, a Traveller-owned site in Stapleford Tawney, where thousands of tonnes of shredded rubbish and plastic have been illegally fly-tipped over the past year.
Public Tip-Off Leads to Swift Police Action
The arrests took place on Friday, February 6, after a member of the public witnessed an articulated lorry dumping a load of waste and immediately called 999. Essex Police responded promptly, seizing the lorry, which was filled with construction and demolition waste and had become stuck in thick mud.
Officers arrested two men at the scene: a 25-year-old from County Down in Northern Ireland and a 55-year-old from Surrey. Both were detained for depositing waste without a permit and were later bailed until February 26 under strict conditions, including a ban on any waste-related activities.
An Essex Police spokesman stated: 'At around 3:30pm on Friday, February 6, we responded to a call from a concerned member of the public who reported a large quantity of waste being dumped from the rear of an articulated lorry on land off Epping Lane at Stapleford Tawney.'
Environmental Crime Investigation Underway
Photos of the site reveal deep piles of waste spread across the green belt land, which is located just off the M25 motorway and surrounded by trees. The Environment Agency (EA) has been investigating the site since last February, but the arrests mark a significant development in the case.
Upon arrival, police observed an excavator and bulldozer moving waste on the site. The two men attempted to flee but were swiftly detained. The police spokesman added: 'Despite one of the suspects due to leave the country on Monday, officers acted swiftly and decisively to safeguard the site, secure evidence, and ensure the correct agency is leading the investigation.'
The seized Irish-registered lorry was later towed on the A13 in Essex, as seen in a video shared on WhatsApp. Police have appealed for anyone with information, CCTV, dash cam, or other footage related to the incident to come forward.
Growing Problem of Illegal Waste Dumps
Birch Field is part of a growing list of illegal dumps that have emerged on agricultural or green belt land in recent years. Organised criminals often identify such sites to dump thousands of tonnes of waste in exchange for cash payments, which are significantly lower than official disposal costs and landfill charges, currently just over £126 per tonne.
Waste crime has become so lucrative that it has been dubbed 'the new narcotics'. The waste is typically shredded by commercial machinery to make it easier to bury, exacerbating environmental damage.
Notable examples of large-scale fly-tipping include:
- A 21,000-tonne, 500ft-long tip near Kidlington in Oxfordshire, with an expected £10 million clean-up bill.
- A 280,000-tonne site in Cheshire.
- Two 50,000-tonne sites in Lancashire and Cornwall.
- A 36,000-tonne tip in Kent.
History of the Birch Field Site
Birch Field has a chequered history. In 2003, Irish traveller Patrick Culligan purchased the land from a farmer for £77,000. A 16-pitch caravan site was established without planning permission, leading to a failed planning appeal in 2006 and an injunction by the council to prevent further occupation.
The site was abandoned but reoccupied by 73 travellers in 2013, who later left after facing threats of jail for breaching the injunction. It has remained empty since, though Land Registry records still list Mr. Culligan as the registered owner. Attempts to contact him were unsuccessful as he provided Birch Field as his address.
Environment Agency's Response
An EA spokesman confirmed that the arrests are part of a major investigation called Operation Dingo. He said: 'Police were greeted by a lorry full of construction and demolition waste and more rubbish spread over a wide area. The lorry, which had sunk into thick mud, was seized. Two mobile phones and a laptop were also recovered as evidence.'
Barry Russell, environment manager for the Environment Agency in the northern home counties, expressed his frustration: 'I share the public’s anger at waste crime, where those responsible have no care for the environment. Thanks to the person who rang 999, and the quick work of Essex Police, my environmental crime team are using the arrests and seizures to continue investigating this suspected illegal waste dump.'
The EA has faced criticism for perceived inaction at some sites, as the under-resourced agency juggles hundreds of waste site investigations across the country. However, these arrests are part of a series of raids by the EA and police targeting large-scale waste crime, fraud, and money laundering.
The EA spokesman emphasised: 'The Environment Agency is determined the multiple arrests in recent months send out a strong message that waste crime is unacceptable, and those responsible will be pursued through the courts.'
Residents and local parish councillors have been complaining about the illegal tip at Birch Field for around a year, with limited action from the EA until now. A waste industry insider noted that the seized lorry could carry about 24 tonnes of waste, costing around £4,500 to dispose of properly, or up to 60 tonnes if overloaded.
When visited, fresh waste was visible near the entrance of Birch Field, with a large hole dug nearby close to a bulldozer. The EA urges anyone with information about suspected waste crime to contact their 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 807060 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, with all calls treated in confidence.
