Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps she has taken to tackle waste crime in (a) Leicestershire, (b) Staffordshire and (c) Warwickshire.

The Government is committed to tackling waste crime, which is a blight on our local communities and the environment and damages legitimate businesses. We have strengthened regulators' powers, are tightening the law and have increased the Environment Agency's budget by £10 million per year to make it harder for rogue operators to find work in the sector and easier for regulators to take action against criminals. We are also providing grants to councils across the country to help them purchase equipment to tackle fly-tipping. Recipients include Tamworth Borough Council and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.

In Leicestershire, the Environment Agency has recently stopped three illegal waste sites, two in relation to burning and one in relation to the storage of liquids. All sites were visited by Environment Agency staff and provided with advice and guidance detailing the relevant legislation, their obligations, how to return to compliance and the consequences of not doing so. The Environment Agency also has ongoing investigations into organised crime groups and are progressing a major case through the court system which had operations within Leicestershire.

In Warwickshire, the Environment Agency currently has two active investigations in targeting priority offenders. In Staffordshire there two ongoing investigations relating to suspected serious environmental offending. These investigations are being undertaken with partner organisations such as the Police, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and other public bodies. Between April 2022 to March 2023 the Environment Agency closed 10 high risk illegal waste sites across Staffordshire and Warwickshire.

Additionally, the Environment Agency is a member of the newly formed Staffordshire Organised Crime Group. The group aims to target and stop organised crime in the area, working with partner organisations including the police, HMRC, HM Prison and Probation Service, local authorities and immigration services.