LONDON : The officers of Environment Agency (EA) visited more than 60 suspected sites across England on March 28th in an attempt to identify illegal waste crimes. In what the EA calls it a ‘day of action’, over 100 officers visited sites simultaneously to carry out investigations. The surprise inspection exercise was code named ‘Operation Cyclone’.
Roadside stop and searches were carried out. Aerial investigation surveys also were done at suspected illegal sites. Officers also used SmartWater to mark waste, in order to provide future evidence of whether it is dumped or exported and support potential EA prosecutions. EA officials state that illegal waste sites pose serious environmental threats and health hazards. By carrying out the raids, EA want to send a clear message to the legal waste sites that EA supports their activities in all possible ways and that it is committed to curtail all unlawful sites operating in the region.
The officials announced that collected evidences would be reviewed and necessary course of action be taken against those found guilty. Information from the investigations will be shared with Police, HMRC and other enforcement organizations. The raids followed reports that a large number of illegal units were operating across the country.It must be noted that 1,135 unlawful units were shut by EA the previous year.
Source: http://www.scrapmonster.com/news/operation-cyclone-sweeps-across-illegal-waste-sites/1/8518
