Environment Agency gets tough

In a move that reinforces the serious view it takes of waste crime, the UK's Environment Agency has made use of a European Arrest Warrant for the very first time as part of its fight against fly-tipping (the illegal dumping of waste). As a result, a suspect believed to have been involved in several serious waste crimes has been extradited from the Republic of Ireland to face trial in the UK.

Following the issuing of the warrant, Patrick Anderson was arrested by Irish police and deported to the UK on the 25th October, where he was re-arrested upon his arrival at London's Heathrow Airport. He is believed to have been involved with a number of serious fly-tipping offences in north and south-east London, and in Essex. An arrest warrant was originally served on Mr Anderson at his last known address in England, at which point the Agency learned that he had returned to Ireland. Once his whereabouts in the Republic were established, the Agency secured the European Arrest Warrant with the assistance of the Crown Prosecution Service.

According to the Agency's senior environmental crime officer Owen Bolton: “This is the first time the Environment Agency has been successful in using a European Arrest Warrant to bring someone to face prosecution for waste crimes...... Our investigations date back into incidents from 2003, and as the case is due to be heard at Inner London Crown Court, we are unable to give specific details of the case.”

He went on: “Waste crime is a serious problem that not only damages our environment, but forces significant costs upon those victims that are dumped on and undermines the legitimate businesses who handle waste in accordance with the law. We will not tolerate it and continue to work to tackle it.”