A man has been arrested in connection organised waste crime through large-scale fly-tipping across rural areas in Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex.
The man was arrested on August 1 in Harlow, Essex, and Hertfordshire Police had executed three warrants.
The arrest was part of an Environment Agency investigation into the large-scale, organised dumping of waste across East Anglia and the Home Counties, named Operation Eagle.
The Environment Agency said Hertfordshire Police force was integral to the arrest and custody of the suspect, enabling its enforcement officers to successfully continue the investigation.
“Waste crime pollutes our environment, undercuts legitimate business and significantly affects our farmers and rural communities,” the Environment Agency said.
“If you have any information that may assist with this investigation, please call our 24-hour hotline on 0800 807060.
“Or report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org referencing ‘Op Eagle’.”
Waste crime
A landowner has been fined for failing to respond to a planning notice after he was suspected of the unauthorised disposal of waste on his farm.
67-year-old Ian Hobden of Giffords Farm, Battle Road, Dallington, pleaded guilty to failing to respond a Planning Contravention Notice when he appeared at Hastings Magistrates’ Court.
He was ordered to pay nearly £1,300.
East Sussex County Council issued the notice as it investigated allegations that Hobden had breached planning control by bringing waste materials onto his land for disposal and burning.
The notice required Hobden to provide information which would help the county council decide if a breach had occurred and what, if any enforcement action should be taken.
Despite repeated reminders, Hobden did not respond, East Sussex County Council said.
