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SEPA joins forces with Crimestoppers to tackle environmental crime head on

12 July 2011

EXT01 – D10

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and charity Crimestoppers today (Tuesday 12 July) announced a joint initiative to tackle environmental crime.

SEPA is undertaking specific intelligence-led work targeting illegal waste operations that cause pollution and harm to the environment, working closely with law enforcement partners, local authorities, business and industry to identify high risk sites and take effective joint agency action.

Any business in Scotland that transports, treats or disposes of any type of waste must have a waste permit or be registered with SEPA.

The independent charity Crimestoppers has joined forces with SEPA in targeting these illegal operators and are encouraging members of the public who have any information regarding illegal waste operators to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or give information anonymously via the online reporting form at 0800 555 111 or website www.crimestoppers-uk.org/.

This new harm-led approach to environmental protection, which complements SEPA's existing method of environmental regulation, essentially means targeting activity on the issues causing or likely to cause the most harm to the environment, wildlife and human health.

Last year, SEPA undertook a number of operations designed to tackle environmental harm, ranging from tackling the export of waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) and the disposal of end-of-life vehicles to the dumping of waste tyres and a crack down on illegal waste-carrying HGVs.  

These operations have led to:

· a number of illegal waste sites, with hundreds of waste vehicles and tyres, being cleared and further enforcement action taken;

· an increase in trade for legal waste operators;

· an increase in the number of operators and producers becoming compliant with the legislation;

· prevention and repatriations of illegal WEEE exports.

And this multi-agency approach to tackle, disrupt and deter the most serious illegal waste site operators across Scotland is continuing, with SEPA currently undertaking joint investigations with a number of Scottish police services across the country to tackle serious organised crime. It is hoped the partnership with Crimestoppers will allow members of the public to anonymously report crimes where previously they wouldn't or felt they couldn't.  

Calum MacDonald, SEPA's Director of Operations, said:

"I am delighted that SEPA has joined forces with Crimestoppers to help us deal with the growing environmental harm caused by environmental crime.

"Operations such as illegal waste sites operate with an unfair commercial advantage over legitimate operators and can lead to serious environmental damage. Also, the increasing costs of waste disposal means that environmental crime can be extremely profitable. There are recognised links between environmental crime and serious organised crime groups and SEPA has been working closely with partner agencies such as the police to disrupt and deter environmental criminal activity. Tackling environmental harm is one of SEPA's key corporate priorities.

Kate Jackson, Assistant National Manager for Crimestoppers Scotland said:

"There are a number of reasons why people do not report criminals, fear is one. I'd like to reassure the public that our service is completely anonymous and in the 23 years that the charity has been running no one has ever been identified.  The service is run for you, the public, to help make your community a safer place to live. We're not part of the police or government, we're an independent charity, so by contacting us you'll never have to give a statement or go to court.

"You can make a difference to your environment and your community and help put these organised criminals out of business by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Ends

Notes to editors

· Photographs from today's launch are available at  www.mediafire.com/?fn7atjcl6109j

· Crimestoppers is an independent charity which helps the Police to solve crimes, making communities safer. It does this by operating the 24/7 telephone number 0800 555 111 which people can ring to pass on information about crimes anonymously. They can also use our 'giving information' form via our website www.crimestoppers-uk.org/

· Around 23 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers.

· Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received over 1.2 million actionable calls, resulting in over 107,000 arrests and charges. Over £115 million worth of goods has been recovered and over £210 million worth of drugs has been seized.

· In 2005, Crimestoppers launched the UK's Most Wanted on its website which allows the public to view images of criminals and pass on vital information about their whereabouts. It has been highly successful with over 1,000 arrests to date.

· Crimestoppers UK was founded by Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Chairman of Trustees. In 1988, he launched Crimestoppers in the Metropolitan Police area. Crimestoppers' 'call to action' is built on a three-way partnership between the business community, the Police and the media.