Crack down on doorstep crime and rogue traders

The Environmental Crime Officers were targeting lorries, cars and waste suspected of carrying waste (such as scrap metal or substances that need to be treated before disposal) to check that they were aware of, and complying with, the law.

 Any person who carries controlled waste (but not including the person who produced the waste, except builders who are not exempt from needing to be registered waste carriers) must be a registered waste carrier with the Environment Agency.

People carrying controlled waste but not registered could be fined up to £5000.

During the operation, which took place at Sixfields in Northampton, Environmental Crime Team officers stopped 26 vehicles suspected of carrying controlled waste.

One driver was cautioned, while one was issued with a seven-day notice ordering him to produce his registration documents and certification within seven days or face prosecution.

Senior Environmental Health Officer Tim Croot said that this had been a really beneficial operation and sent a strong message to people that the regulations around the disposal of waste and prevention of fly tipping will be robustly enforced.