Police stop more than 120 vehicles in Surrey for rural crime crackdown
Ongoing operations focus on waste crime and plant machinery theft
More than 120 predominantly commercial vehicles were stopped in Surrey last week as part of an ongoing effort to address rural crime.
On Friday, 27th February, the Surrey Police rural crime team conducted a day of action in the Waverley and Mole Valley areas, focusing on issues such as waste crime and the theft of plant machinery.
The operation involved officers from the Roads Policing Unit, Special Constables, Safer Neighbourhood Teams, and representatives from Mole Valley District Council, Waverley Borough Council, and the Environment Agency.
A total of 122 vehicles were stopped, resulting in 26 offences being processed and one arrest made.
Surrey Police issued 10 pieces of process related to road traffic offences, including no tax and no insurance.
Paul Fischer, a 37-year-old from Leatherhead, was charged with failing to co-operate with a preliminary breath test and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.
He has been bailed to appear at Guildford Magistrates Court in May.
Mole Valley District Council identified 10 waste-related offences, such as carrying waste without a waste licence or lacking a waste transfer licence, and issued £300 fixed penalty notices to each offender.
The Environment Agency has opened investigations into four additional complex waste matters.
Superintendent Chris Tinney, rural crime portfolio lead for Surrey Police, emphasized the broader impact of waste crimes on rural communities, highlighting the significant economic burden they pose to farmers and landowners.
Tinney said, “Waste crimes have a far-reaching and hugely detrimental impact on our rural communities. The economic impact is also significantly high for farmers and landowners, who often spend thousands of pounds clearing illegally dumped waste from their land.”
He noted the importance of a multi-agency approach in tackling the issue, allowing for a comprehensive enforcement strategy against waste crime offenders.
Matt Higginson, Environment Manager at the Environment Agency, expressed a commitment to continuing enforcement action against non-compliance.
He said, “This road stop is one of many we do with our partners and should serve as a warning to those who would flout the law. We will continue to search out waste crime and won’t hesitate to act when operators work outside of the law.”
Councillor Tony Fairclough from Waverley Borough Council stressed the seriousness with which fly-tipping is treated and the vital role of joint operations in combating rogue operators.
Fairclough said, “These checks play an essential role in identifying and discouraging rogue operators who may be involved in illegal dumping, while also enabling the police to carry out wider safety and compliance checks on vehicles and individuals.”