“A blight on our rural communities,” is how Sgt Darren Carr of Lancashire Police’s south rural taskforce describes the latest run of fly‑tipping that has left farmers and villages picking up the bill. On Saturday 6 December 2025, a joint operation by the Environment Agency’s Joint Unit for Waste Crime, Lancashire Police and the National Crime Agency led to the arrest of a man in connection with large‑scale roadside dumping.

Officers say multiple sites along roadsides and lay‑bys were hit. The Environment Agency confirmed the suspected vehicle used in the offending has been seized, part of a wider effort to choke off the logistics that enable organised waste crime.

Investigations now stretch beyond county lines. Similar incidents are being examined across Lancashire, Cheshire and Merseyside, with the Environment Agency urging residents to report sightings or information that could help the inquiry and identify any linked activity.

Police say landowners are often left paying thousands to clear rubbish that is sometimes hazardous. Much of it is tipped in sensitive habitats used by native wildlife, turning quiet lanes and field entrances into dumps and leaving rural businesses to shoulder the clean‑up.

Phil Davies, who manages the Joint Unit for Waste Crime, said the partnership model is built to “protect communities and the environment”. Environment Agency figures show JUWC has coordinated or joined 361 multi‑agency days of action since launch, leading to 186 associated arrests by September 2025.

Formed in 2020, the unit brings together a dozen partners including HMRC, the National Crime Agency, British Transport Police and the National Fire Chiefs Council, alongside industry bodies. Officials say JUWC has recently doubled in size to step up work against serious and organised waste offenders.

This case has sharp local resonance. Fly‑tipping doesn’t just spoil the view; it blocks gateways, threatens stock and can contaminate watercourses. When culprits vanish, the bills land with farmers, smallholders and parish councils already juggling tight budgets.

Residents can help cut off demand. If you’re paying someone to take rubbish, check the Environment Agency’s public register to confirm they’re licensed; if they’re not listed, they’re not legal. For bulky items or DIY waste, search ‘Dispose of household waste’ for lawful options near you.

Anyone with information about shredded waste dumped on roads or private land should contact the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60, or report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Details like times, vehicle descriptions and precise locations are valuable-only if it’s safe to observe.

Police and regulators say the message is clear: those who treat the countryside as a free tip will be pursued. From the Ribble Valley to West Lancashire and the Cheshire border, rural communities are being asked to help make it stick.