Activities included executing warrants, identifying vehicles used by criminals through automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and intelligence-led patrols in areas where vulnerable people live.
The action was a part of ‘Operation Rogue Trader’ a combined campaign led by Police and trading standards services with support from the Department of Work and Pensions, HM Revenue and Customs, the DVLA, the DVSA, Border Force, Scambusters and the Agency.
The aim of the campaign was to catch rogue traders and to prevent innocent people from becoming victims of crime.
Priorities for the Agency included targeting waste operatives which may be working without a permit, as well as criminals that may take advantage of householders by using high pressure sales techniques.
Officers
Over thirty Environment Agency officers were out on the ground working closely with emergency responders and investigators as part of the operation.
Agency teams were involved at locations across England and staff physically assisted in over two hundred road side checks of vehicles and site visits.
Nicky Lawton, deputy director of the Environment Agency’s enforcement service said: “The Environment Agency works closely with partner enforcement organisations to identify and stop rogue traders. We will take action against illegal operators who risk polluting the environment and undercutting legitimate businesses.
“Any waste collector should have Environment Agency permits, always check whether a trader is legitimate and if you are suspicious of a waste collector report it to the EA 0800 80 70 60 or Crimestoppers.”
In 2015 Operation Rogue Trader saw over 100 people arrested, £3.1m worth of property recovered and over 5,000 vehicles inspected.
Operation Rogue Trader is led by Operation Liberal, the national intelligence unit that links associated crimes and gathers intelligence on key nominals and organised crime groups who travel extensively throughout the UK.
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