Environmental Crime
Why Tackle Environmental Crime?
Environmental crime is a serious threat that needs to be addressed through professional investigation and prosecution. Fly tipping and illegal waste disposal are not just minor infractions – Our experience in this field has shown that they are planned criminal activities that cause lasting damage to our communities and environment.
When criminals dispose of waste illegally, they create hazardous conditions that affect everyone. Items containing dangerous chemicals seep toxins into the soil, threatening wildlife and contaminating local areas. The cost of cleanup falls on taxpayers (how much), diverting funds that could otherwise improve community services. These crimes also create serious health and safety risks, particularly when waste is dumped near roads or public spaces.
Investigating Crime
EEI provides independent specialist investigations into environmental crimes, including fly tipping, illegal waste disposal, unauthorised dumping, and organised waste crime networks. We prepare cases for criminal prosecution and are experienced in achieving asset recovery through the Proceeds of Crime Act and Unlawful Profit Orders.
Our investigations target not just individual offenders, but the organised criminal enterprises that advertise fake ‘waste clearing services’ to households and businesses, only to illegally dump the waste they’re paid to remove.
According to the House of Commons Library fly tipping report, these operations can cost between £10,000 to £500,000 per site to clean up, and “criminals often return to cleared sites to repeat the cycle”. The EEi team is made-up of specialist investigators some of whom have a background within the police in serious and organised crime others are experts at people tracing. We have open-source data experts who are proficient in finding people through the Internet.
The legislation to crack down on commercial fly tipping is powerful with the ability to use the national anti-fraud network to obtain significant amounts of data in regard to a suspect.
Our Support
Supporting local authorities and landowners, the skilled team at EEI ensures that environmental criminals are held accountable for their actions through thorough investigation and robust prosecution.
We help authorities regain control of illegally used land, enabling them to protect their communities and environment from repeat offences. Our approach goes beyond issuing fixed penalty notices – we build comprehensive criminal cases that result in meaningful consequences.
Supporting Law-Abiding Citizens
Those who abuse our environment through illegal waste disposal are a criminal minority, and it is equally important to protect law-abiding citizens from the consequences of these crimes.
We believe in thorough investigation and that every environmental crime should be investigated professionally by independent environmental crime specialists, like EEI, to ensure justice is served and communities are protected.