Man arrested in connection with North East illegal waste dumping

A man has been arrested as an Environment Agency investigation into illegal waste dumping in the North East continues.

The 32-year-old man was arrested at an address in Sunderland this morning (1 October) in a joint operation between Northumbria Police and the Environment Agency.

He is currently in custody being questioned in connection with the illegal dumping of waste at the former Dewhirst site, Thorpe Road, Peterlee, and at Hart Quarry in Hartlepool.

The arrest forms part of a wider investigation into three separate sites – these ones in Peterlee and Hartlepool and a third near Newcastle Airport at Callerton in Newcastle. Together the dumps amount to thousands of tonnes of waste.

As part of the government’s commitment to acting early to address illegal activity before it becomes established, the Environment Agency is stepping up its action on waste crime in its 10 point plan

In August, the government set out plans to shut down those behind waste crime, building on its Waste Crime Action Plan, including more Environment Agency officers on the front line, a steep increase in fines and tougher sanctions for the most serious offences. 

Mark Rumble, Environmental Crime Team Leader at the Environment Agency, said:

This arrest is an important step as our investigation into illegal dumping in the North East continues.

Illegal waste sites are a blight on our communities and residents should not have to live next to eyesores and put up with the smells.

We have stepped up enforcement action with our 10 point plan and I want to make it clear that we’ll do everything possible to trace those suspected of being involved.

All three sites were reported to the Environment Agency over the summer. The Agency was quick to respond and, working with landowners, the sites were shut down and concrete blocks put in place to stop access.

Investigating officers have carried out searches at the sites, gathering evidence to help trace those responsible for each of them.