'Cowboy' fly-tippers face 'clean-up squads' in Exeter woodland crackdown

Fly-tippers who blight Exeter’s ancient woodlands could be forced into "clean-up squads" as part of a major government crackdown on waste crime.

The move follows repeated calls for action from Exeter MP Steve Race, who has highlighted the "scourge" of illegal dumping in Stoke Woods, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the north of the city.

Under the new Waste Crime Action Plan launched this week, offenders face up to 20 hours of unpaid work clearing the very streets and parks they have damaged.

Residents in the Stoke Hill area have long campaigned against recurring incidents in the nearby ancient woodland. Mr Race, who previously challenged the Government on how to break the "criminal business model" of waste dumping, has now invited the Environment Agency to visit Stoke Woods to see the scale of the problem first-hand.

"People in Exeter have had to put up with fly-tipped eyesores at green spaces across the city for too long," Mr Race said.

"This isn’t about individuals not using the tip; it’s about cowboy operators posing as legitimate businesses, making money out of illegal dumping."

The plan, described by the Government as its "toughest ever" crackdown, includes:

• Police-style powers: The Environment Agency will be granted new authorities to search premises, seize assets, and make arrests.

• Tougher penalties: Beyond manual labour, fly-tippers face driving licence penalty points and must repay the full cost of clearing their waste.

• High-tech surveillance: A new Operational Waste Intelligence Unit will use aerial surveillance and financial data to track organised criminal gangs.

Waste crime is estimated to cost the UK economy £1 billion every year, with nearly 1.3 million incidents recorded nationally last year.

In response to pressure from local MPs, the budget for waste crime enforcement has been hiked by 50 per cent this year to £15.6 million.

An additional £45 million has also been allocated to help the Environment Agency pursue the professional gangs behind the largest-scale dumps.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds added: "This Action Plan sends a clear message: dump illegally and you will face the full consequences."

Mr Race warned that he would be "watching closely" to ensure the new powers are used effectively to protect Exeter's green spaces.