Devon & Cornwall Police News site

Devon & Cornwall Police’s Rural Affairs team supported East Devon District Council to educate the public about the growing issue of fly-tipping as part of an engagement event that took place recently.

On Tuesday 19 August, Rural Affairs Officers from Devon & Cornwall Police worked with Environmental Health Officers from East Devon District Council, Dog Enforcement Officer, Councillors, and representatives from the Environment Agency to set up a realistic fly-tip at Lime Kiln Car Park in Budleigh Salterton.

This event was organised following the success of a similar event which took place in Woodbury Common in June. The staged fly-tip was constructed using items recently recovered from fly-tipping incidents, including garden furniture, computer chairs, bicycles, plastic wrap and tyres.

Throughout the day, the team spoke with dog walkers, runners and passers-by about the implications of fly-tipping and were handed information about reporting.

Tackling fly-tipping is a policing priority and is outlined in the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy 2022-2025.

In 2024, almost 5000 incidents of fly-tipping were reported to Devon County Council – an increase of 11% from the previous year.

Rural Affairs Officer PC Clarke Orchard said, “Fly-tipping can cause significant damage to the environment and its wildlife, and we know that it is a growing concern for people living in rural areas of Devon and Cornwall.

“Criminals target communities by illegally dumping waste and damaging our beautiful landscape and countryside.

“To address this, we've built strong partnerships and launched operations across Devon and Cornwall to combat these threats and raise awareness of fly-tipping.

“The staged fly-tip was an innovative way to demonstrate what illegal waste dumping looks like and allowed us to have constructive conversations with members of the public about the importance of reporting fly-tipping, which can pose significant risks to public health, and endangers livestock, crops, surrounding wildlife and waterways.”

Fly-tippers can receive significant fines in Magistrates’ Courts and unlimited fines in higher courts, as well as community punishment orders or prison sentences of up to five years.

PC Orchard added: “Anyone with information relating to the identities of people responsible for fly-tipping should contact their local authority. For large-scale waste dumping, please contact the Environment Agency.

“If waste is causing an obstruction on a road or a fly-tipping crime is in progress, it is considered a police matter. In these instances, please call 999.”

Fly-tipping has links to organised criminality, scarring the landscape and threatening wildlife. Fly-tipping also absorbs public funds that could be used for vital local services and is estimated to cost the UK £1 billion every year.

Councillor Geoff Jung, Portfolio Holder Environment – Operational at East Devon District Council, said: “Fly-tipping is a blight on our beautiful countryside and an unfair burden on local people. These events are an important opportunity to show the community what fly-tipping really looks like and how much damage it causes. We want to empower residents with the knowledge and tools to take action – by disposing of waste correctly and reporting fly-tipping when they see it.”

East Devon District Council is responsible for the removal of fly-tipping from council-owned property, Devon County Council highways, roads, pavements and lay-bys. It is the responsibility of landowners to remove fly-tipping from private property. Reports can be made via the East Devon District Council website at www.eastdevon.gov.uk/report-fly-tipping.

Anyone who suspects waste crime activity to report it to the Environment Agency, in confidence, on the 24-hour hotline 0800 807 060.

Information relating to fly-tipping can also be shared anonymously with Crime Stoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org