Liverpool City Region agencies fight back against waste crime

19 Oct 2026 02:40 PM

The first ever waste crime summit to bring partners together in Liverpool City Region was held in Widnes.

The Liverpool City Region Waste Crime Conference was organised by the Environment Agency and the Merseyside Police & Crime Commissioner to strengthen the collective fight against illegal waste activity.

The event, hosted by Halton Borough Council, brought together agencies involved in tackling environmental crime in Merseyside. These included the Environment Agency, Merseyside Police, the Joint Unit for Waste Crime, the 6 local councils that make up the Liverpool City Region, Defra, UKHSA and Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service.

The Liverpool City Region Waste Crime Conference. Copyright: Environment Agency

The conference brought together authorities from across Merseyside to strengthen the collective response to waste crime. Partners agreed to work more closely, sharing intelligence and coordinating activity to prevent and disrupt illegal waste operations and protect communities and the environment.

Under the Prime Minister’s crackdown on waste crime, the government and Environment Agency are working together to ensure serious, organised criminal gangs have nowhere to hide.

This is backed by an additional £45 million from the government over the next three years, on top of the £5.6 million increase for this financial year announced previously. This will strengthen enforcement activity and ensure waste criminals face the consequences of their actions.

The Liverpool City Region Waste Crime Conference. Copyright: Environment Agency

Ian Crewe, Area Director of the Environment Agency in Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire said:

Waste crime hits communities, harms the environment and undermines honest businesses and landowners. It costs the English economy over £1 billion every year, with an estimated 20% of all waste illegally managed.

This is not a problem that any single agency can resolve so it is important that we attack this collectively and build on the work already taking place. By sharing intelligence and resources we can help prevent waste crime and disrupt the criminal networks behind it.

Merseyside Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: 

Waste crime has a real impact on local communities, affecting the places people live, work and take pride in.

That’s why I was delighted to support this first Liverpool City Region Waste Crime Conference. One of Merseyside’s greatest strengths is our ability to work together, and bringing partners together to share expertise, intelligence and best practice is essential if we are to disrupt criminal activity, protect our communities and hold those responsible to account.

James Cruddas, Deputy Director Waste and Recycling, Circular Economy Directorate at Defra said:

Tackling waste crime requires a multi-agency effort. Our focus is on combining a clear national strategy with effective local delivery, ensuring that partners have the tools, intelligence and powers needed to combat criminality in the waste sector.

I am pleased to join colleagues in Merseyside to discuss how we can work together to protect the environment and support legitimate businesses.

Neighbourhood Chief Inspector Rob Budden from Merseyside Police said:

Waste crime is far from a victimless offence. It blights communities, damages our environment, creates significant costs for taxpayers and can often be linked to wider organised criminality.

Those involved place profit before people and have little regard for the harm they cause to local neighbourhoods.

By working closely with our partners, sharing intelligence and coordinating enforcement activity, we are better equipped to identify offenders, disrupt criminal networks and bring those responsible to justice.

In December 2025, the Environment Agency closed an illegal waste site in Knowsley, Merseyside and blocked access to the site.  It is doing everything within its powers and remit to help manage the site while an investigation is being carried out. It is continuing to work in partnership with Knowsley Council, Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and UKHSA.

Alongside this, a new Waste Crime Crackdown Group, chaired by Environment Secretary Angela Eagle, will bring regulators and law enforcement together to dismantle criminal operations and deliver results.

Greater use of drones, a bigger role for Mayors and the police, more Environment Agency officers on the frontline, and a dramatic rise in fines will deter and punish those who dump illegally.

This all builds on the government’s Waste Crime Action Plan: which set out a zero-tolerance approach with measures to improve prevention, strengthen enforcement and clean up the most serious illegal waste sites.