Conference to discuss fly-tipping problem across South East
Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) across the South East have been invited to attend a conference to discuss tackling organised criminal waste dumping. According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, during 2023/24 there were 101,694 cases of fly-tipping in the South East region.The National Audit Office estimates that illegal waste dumping, much of it organised, costs the economy more than £900m a year. Kent PCC Matthew Scott has invited colleagues Katy Bourne and Lisa Townsend - from Sussex and Surrey respectively - to discuss a problem he has called "the new county lines".
Tuesday's event will also see representatives from regional organised crime units and the Environment Agency (EA) attend.Mr Scott said: "What this summit is about is bringing together those who have the powers like the Environment Agency and local councils to see how we can work better to tackle this criminality because, tragically, the outcomes for fly-tipping and waste crime are very low."In the two years up until December, the EA received 3,407 incident reports of suspected criminal activity, such as dumping and burning waste, in the South East region.Large scale fly tipping is punishable with a fine of up to £50,000 or 12 months imprisonment if convicted in a magistrates' court, or an unlimited fine and up to five years' imprisonment if convicted in a crown court. The conference will be held at the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council building in Kings Hill, Kent.
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