MP demands more support to catch fly tippers

4.54.51pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 2nd Feb 2005

Sue Doughty, Lib Dem Shadow Environment Minister has challenged the government to improve its record in catching illegal flytippers.

Following the consideration of the bill in Standing Committee she said: " This bill will force fly tippers to clean up the problem if they are convicted, but unless the Environment Agency is paid enough to do the work it needs to do, no one will end up in court and no one will pay the bills. Surrey Farmers have been forced to pay the bills for long enough with no help. Its time that the government put more resource into catching these criminals and making them pay. The Environment Agency has achieved very few prosecutions and that situation cannot improve without resources.

In 2003 the Environment Agency dealt with over 5,000 Waste Related incidents which resulted in 56 prosecutions. Proposals in the bill would toughen penalties to include fines of £50,000 or a possible term of imprisonment. The offender can be ordered the pay for the costs of clean up.

The bill has now passed through its committee stage and is likely to return to the Commons later this month.