Labour considers radical measures to tackle fly-tippers

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Labour is considering whether to give police-style powers to the Environment Agency to fight fly-tippers. These could include enabling environment officers to conduct searches without a warrant, seize assets and make arrests. Illegal waste dumping has reached a new high in England, with the number of reported incidents increasing by 9% from 2024 to 2025. The trend has been driven, in part, by high disposal costs and limited collection services. A lack of enforcement has also played a role. Although most incidents involve household rubbish tipped down the back of small vans, organised crime gangs are also dumping illegal waste. Labour is preparing legislation that would introduce stricter punishments, including stripping fly-tippers of their driving licences, and is due to publish a comprehensive waste crime plan this week.