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Updated Mar 14, 2013

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Bigger fines for worst dumpers

The Sentencing Council for England and Wales, which gives guidance to the courts, has said that magistrates should impose bigger fines more frequently on those who are responsible for repeatedly dumping waste. The guidelines being proposed are the first to be issued for environmental crimes.

Although fly-tipping rates seem to have been decreasing over the past five years, in 2012 local authorities in England and Wales had to clean up almost 800,000 cases of illegal dumping at a cost of nearly £40 million. However, relatively few cases of fly-tipping actually come before the courts.

It is because of the small caseload that the Sentencing Council believe magistrates need clear guidelines to avoid inconsistency in sentencing. As a result:

  • large companies could face a maximum fine of £2 million for major acts of environmental damage;
  • small companies could face a fine of between £450 and £2,000 for minor offences, but up to £70,000 for causing serious harm;
  • in extreme cases, offenders could be jailed.

Katharine Rainsford, a member of the Sentencing Council, said, "Offences like fly-tipping and illegal disposal of hazardous waste can cause significant damage to the environment and put people's health at risk. We're improving guidance for courts to help ensure consistent and appropriate sentences for offenders, particularly for corporate offenders who can be guilty of the worst offences."

The Sentencing Council is currently consulting on a new environmental offences guideline. The consultation ends on 6 June 2013.

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