On Saturday 6 December, the Environment Agency’s Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC) worked with Lancashire Police’s south rural taskforce and the National Crime Agency to arrest a 56‑year‑old man on suspicion of large‑scale waste dumping on roadsides and lay‑bys. A vehicle believed to have been used in the offences was seized during the operation, which was disclosed in an Environment Agency press release published on 12 December 2025. Investigations are continuing into linked incidents across Lancashire, Cheshire and Merseyside.
Officials described the action as an example of multi‑agency policing to disrupt organised waste offending and reduce harm to rural communities. Lancashire Police emphasised the costs borne by private landowners and the environmental risks arising from hazardous waste left in sensitive habitats, underlining the need for cross‑border coordination where offenders travel between counties.
Formed in 2020 and hosted by the Environment Agency, the JUWC is a standing taskforce that pools intelligence and enforcement capability from across the UK’s regulators and law enforcement bodies. Its membership includes the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, HM Revenue & Customs, police forces, the National Fire Chiefs Council, British Transport Police, the National Crime Agency, Revenue Scotland and the Welsh Revenue Authority, alongside industry partners the Environmental Services Association and the Chartered Institute of Waste Management.
The powers used in operations of this kind are set out in law. Under section 34B of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, authorised officers and constables may search and seize vehicles suspected of being used in waste offences; section 34C makes supplementary provision. The Control of Waste (Dealing with Seized Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 govern retention, return or disposal of seized property. These frameworks enable joint teams to remove suspect vehicles quickly and preserve evidence.
According to the Environment Agency, the JUWC has led or attended 361 multi‑agency days of action to September 2025, with 186 associated arrests recorded by partner agencies. The Unit has recently expanded, increasing its capacity to investigate serious and organised waste crime. Ministers have also confirmed a rise in Environment Agency funding for waste crime enforcement to £15.6 million in 2025, supporting the JUWC’s growth and intelligence capability.
For councils and landowners, the legal and financial consequences remain significant. Local authorities can prosecute fly‑tipping under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; courts can impose unlimited fines or imprisonment for serious cases. Where waste is dumped on private land, landowners are generally responsible for arranging lawful removal and disposal, though authorities may pursue offenders or seek to recover costs.
Householders and businesses have a duty of care when waste leaves their control. Government guidance advises checking the Environment Agency public register to ensure carriers, brokers or dealers are authorised, and keeping evidence of checks. Breaches of the household waste duty of care can attract fixed penalties set in guidance at up to £600, with prosecution possible for more serious offences.
Policy changes intended to strengthen compliance are forthcoming. The government’s digital waste tracking service is moving through private beta, with legislation planned to mandate use by permitted waste‑receiving sites from October 2026 before expansion to other operators. Regulators expect that fuller movement data will support earlier detection of organised waste crime.
Members of the public can report suspected waste crime or environmental incidents to the Environment Agency’s 24‑hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The Environment Agency confirms it is continuing to receive information relevant to the North West investigation announced on 12 December.