20
Accepted
The Environment Agency told us that tackling illegal waste sites is also the responsibility of...
Recommendation
The Environment Agency told us that tackling illegal waste sites is also the responsibility of local authorities or the police. The Environment Agency lacks some powers to act, such as civil enforcement powers which are often faster and cheaper than criminal prosecutions.51 The Environment Agency told us about its actions to intervene at an illegal waste site at Kidlington in Oxfordshire. Once the Environment Agency received “confirmed intelligence” about the illegal waste dumping, it told us that it was on site two days later and had made four arrests to date. However, it told us that the local community had seen suspicious activity on that site for many weeks previously, but the Environment Agency had not received that information, suggesting a major gap in its ability to collect intelligence on waste crime.52 We asked what needs to be done to improve co-operation with the police, local authorities and other relevant organisations such as the DVLA to prevent this happening in the future. The Environment Agency told us it is revising how it processes and triages intelligence on illegal waste sites and agreed that it should be better connected with local government and other partners.53 Supporting farmers and businesses to comply
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, setting a target implementation date of September 2027, and outlines a comprehensive plan to strengthen intelligence capabilities and inter-agency cooperation to tackle waste crime. This includes investing in advanced technologies, reviewing intelligence sharing, establishing a new Operational Waste Intelligence and Analysis Unit, and providing the Environment Agency with better access to land ownership data.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee's recommendations. Target implementation date: September 2027. The recently published Waste Crime Action Plan delivers the toughest ever crackdown on illegal dumping, setting out government’s intention to strengthen intelligence capabilities to improve the detection of waste crime. Defra is investing in advanced technologies and with NPCC, are reviewing intelligence sharing between the Environment Agency, Local Authorities, the police, NCA and HMRC to ensure that enforcement bodies have access to the high-quality evidence needed for effective prosecution. Defra will evaluate the application of new technologies as it goes along, to understand their impact on response times. The Environment Agency is introducing a new Operational Waste Intelligence and Analysis Unit to bring together satellite, drone and visual imagery, financial and criminal data and other intelligence. The unit will spot unusual activity sooner, flag risks before they escalate and accelerate enforcement action. HM Land Registry will support the Environment Agency in accessing land ownership data, meaning the Environment Agency will be better placed to identify unusual patterns at an earlier stage and combine this with other intelligence to trigger more timely interventions. Defra has set up a multi-disciplinary team with a key focus on how digital can support the delivery of its outcomes on waste and the circular economy. This Delivery Group is working with policy and operational colleagues to develop strategic roadmaps to deliver the department’s outcomes here which will inform the investment needed in digital services.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Inquiry
Environmental regulation
Report
74th Report - Environmental regulation
25 Mar 2026
HC 1687
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.3 yrs
Report published
25 Mar 2026