The Environment Agency (EA) has announced that it has helped police make five arrests at three illegal waste tyre sites, in a crackdown on suspected waste crimes.
Backed up by Lancashire and Greater Manchester Police forces, investigators from the EA last week carried out raids under Operation Broadway to obtain evidence from three undisclosed illegal tyre sites across the North of England, where it is believed an ‘illegal rogue trader’ has been undercutting the prices of legitimate businesses.
Operation Broadway has been running for seven months and was launched in an effort to ‘protect the livelihoods of legitimate business owners and safeguard surrounding communities’. It is one of the National Environmental Crime Team’s major long-term investigations into criminal activity related to waste, including illegal waste export, organised criminal networks and industrial scale fly-tipping.
Head of Illegals and Waste at the EA, Mat Crocker said: “The Environment Agency will protect the legitimate recycling industry by being robust in tracking down waste criminals and bringing them to justice. As well as undercutting small businesses, waste crime risks damaging public health and the environment.”
Louis Hunt, Senior Investigating Officer at the EA, added: “The raid has been a success; this progress in Operation Broadway has only been possible with vital support from the police and fire services and intelligence shared through ‘Project Genga’ – a partnership aimed at disrupting and detecting organised crime across the region.”
The Environment Agency has also been working with the Lancashire Fire Service and Greater Manchester Fire Service to ensure the safety of sites where ‘illegally-obtained’ used tyres have been piled up.
According to the EA, illegal used tyre sites are highly flammable, and should a fire break out, would necessitate an evacuation due to toxic fumes and air pollution.
Jim Fowler, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s Station Manager commented on action recently taken at a site in Blackburn: “The steps taken were necessary to keep the area around the site in Blackburn safe. The illegal activities that have been carried out on the premises put the local community at risk. Fire Safety Enforcement Officers are investigating the site to establish whether there have been any breaches of the Fire Safety Order and actions will be taken against the owners if they are required.”
Anyone with suspicions or knowledge of illegal waste activities are asked to contact the Environment Agency on 0800 807 060 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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