New figures revealed fly-tipping has it a record high
Fly-tipping has hit a new high after 1.15 million incidents were reported on public land last year, latest figures have revealed.
Defra said data for 2023/24 showed a rise of 6% with offences committed on highways being the most common, accounting for 37% of total incidents in 2023/24.
"Fly-tipping is a disgraceful act which trashes communities and its increase is unacceptable," said Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed.
"Communities and businesses should not have to put up with these crimes."
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Mr Reed promised the Government would 'crack down on fly tipping and punish rubbish dumpers' and while speaking at this week's NFU Conference hed said rural crime was high on the Government's agenda with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper set to introduce specific rural legislation before the end of the year.
He said: "I have listened to your concerns about other forms of crime as well. The National Rural Crime Unit is already supporting forces to tackle rural crime around the country."
Fly-tipping
However, the CLA has questioned the Government's commitment to fighting fly-tipping, accusing it of abandoning farmers and landowners.
According to a CLA member survey, 90% of respondents had been victims of fly-tipping in the past 12 months, with waste such as tyres, cannabis farm vegetation, nitrous oxide canisters, cooking oil drums, mattresses, fridges and sofas dumped on their land.
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Almost 40% had experienced at least six separate incidents in the past year, and more than 75% said fly-tipping has a significant financial impact on their business. More than nine in 10 believe local authorities need increased resourcing to help fight the war on waste.
Waste crime
CLA president Victoria Vyvyan said: "Rural communities have had enough of fly-tipping and waste crime, and the Government must act. It is not just litter blotting the landscape, but tonnes of household and commercial waste which can often be hazardous – even including asbestos and chemicals – endangering farmers, wildlife, livestock, crops and the environment.
"As Labour itself has pointed out, the crime rate in rural areas has surged by 32 per cent since 2011, faster than in urban areas. People, communities and businesses deserve to feel safe and protected, and the first place to start must surely be ending the chronic under-funding of rural police forces," she added.
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