- Andy Burnham has ordered a major crackdown on organised crime gangs profiting from illegal waste, targeting three “toxic dump” sites across England.
- The clearance operation targets sites in Kent, Surrey, and West Yorkshire containing a combined 22,000 tonnes of waste affecting around 2,900 families.
- Enforcement measures will see fines for waste offences rise from £300 to £5,000, increased drone deployment, and the seizure of cash, cars, and property from offenders.
- Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle will chair a new Waste Crime Crackdown Group to coordinate regulators, law enforcement, and the National Crime Agency.
- West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester will be the first areas to adopt the new region-led enforcement approach to tackle waste crime.
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