Crackdown on doorstep crime and rogue traders in Northampton

[Newsdesk]

Northampton Borough Council's Environmental Crime Team joined a multi-agency operation to crack down on doorstep crime and
rogue trader activity earlier this week.

The Environmental Crime Officers were targeting lorries, cars and vans suspected of carrying waste (such as scrap metal or substances
that need to be treated before disposal) to check that they were aware of, and complying with, the law.

Any person who carries controlled waste (but not including the person who produced the waste, except builders who are not exempt) must
be a registered waste carrier with the Environment Agency.

People carrying controlled waste but not registered could be fined up to £5000.

During the operation, which took place at Sixfields in Northampton, Environmental Crime Team officers stopped 26 vehicles suspected of
carrying controlled waste.

One driver was cautioned, while one was issued with a seven-day notice ordering him to produce his registration documents and certification
within seven days or face prosecution.

Senior Environmental Health Officer Tim Croot said that this had been a really beneficial operation and sent a strong message to people that
the regulations around the disposal of waste and prevention of fly tipping will be robustly enforced.