Press release: North East man fined for illegally burning waste

Mark Anthony Walsh, 57, of Maidstone Drive, Marton, Middlesbrough, appeared at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 2 May, where he pleaded guilty to burning waste at Thorpe Larches in Sedgefield.

He was fined £5,800, ordered to pay £2,000 in costs and a victim surcharge of £80.

Prosecuting on behalf of the Environment Agency, Simon Crowder told the court that on 5 December 2016, the Environment Agency received information from Durham County Council about possible waste burning taking place on land at Beechgrove at Thorpe Larches in Sedgefield.

The following day two Environment Agency enforcement officers went to the property and spoke to Walsh, who said he had been burning waste packing which he had produced as a result of renovations on his own property. They left information with Walsh about the Environment Agency role and powers but did not see any evidence of burning.

In February 2017, the council contacted the Environment Agency to say they had received further complaints about burning waste at the land.

In March 2017, they received further information about fires at the address and attended the scene on two occasions. During one of the visits they saw no one was present with the fire. The waste pile was estimated to measure 5m by 2.5m and contained partially burnt household items along with a plastic wheelie bin, tin cans, garden waste, waste paper, metal springs and household electrical items.

During interview on 4 May that year Walsh said he only burnt bedding from the pig sty. Paul Whitehill, from the Environment Agency in the North East, said:

The evidence, including images and visits by our enforcement officers, shows Walsh burning waste on his land illegally.

Environmental laws are there to protect the environment and community and Walsh deliberately flouted those laws, putting the environment at risk. I’d encourage people to report waste crime to us so that we can investigate and take any necessary action.

Waste crime can be reported to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.



Press release: Boris Johnson teams up with former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen to tackle illegal wildlife trade

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and former England cricketer and wildlife campaigner Kevin Pietersen have today (Friday 4 May) teamed up for a visit to see the important role Border Force plays in fighting the illegal wildlife trade at Heathrow Airport.

After receiving a briefing from illegal wildlife trade experts in the Border Force team, Mr Johnson and Mr Pietersen were shown confiscated items which people have tried to smuggle through customs and are now housed in Heathrow Airport’s ‘dead shed’.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said:

The illegal wildlife trade is a vile and loathsome crime with organised gangs and criminal scum at the very heart of it. Not only is it wiping out wildlife populations, it is also robbing communities of sustainable incomes and damaging economies across Africa and Asia, all for the senseless demand in live animals and wildlife products for trinkets and quack medicines.

Border Force is doing incredible work stopping these items from ending up on the black market here in the UK but more can and must be done on a global scale if we are going to stamp this crime out for good. That’s why we are bringing world leaders together for an international conference this autumn, to find a way to save our charismatic megafauna and endangered species before it is too late.

I applaud the work that Kevin and other wildlife campaigners are doing to raise awareness of the plight of endangered rhinos across Africa and Asia.

Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen said:

Stopping the illegal wildlife trade is the only way we will save those endangered species which are on the brink of extinction.

In South Africa close to three rhinos are illegally killed every single day. It’s shameful that the world is just sitting back and watching as whole species are being wiped out.

I support the vital work going on by governments around the world to tackle this issue head on but we need action now to halt the demand for the illegal wildlife trade before we see species wiped out for good.

October’s conference will focus on tackling the illegal wildlife trade as a serious organised crime, building coalitions and closing illegal wildlife markets.

Further information

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News story: CEN updates affecting chemical measurements April 2018

EN 17049:2018 – Animal feeding stuffs: Methods of sampling and analysis – Identification of tylosin, spiramycin, virginiamycin, carbadox and olaquindox at sub-additive levels in compound feed – Confirmatory analysis by LC-MS

Tylosin, spiramycin and virginiamycin are macrolide compounds that have been widely used in feed additives to prevent infectious disease and improve animal growth but which are now prohibited in the EU.

A screening method using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) to detect spiramycin, tylosin and virginiamycin in animal feed originating from plants is described in EN 16939:2017 where for confirmatory purposes liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (LC-MS) is required.

EN 17049:2018 describes a method for confirmatory analysis using high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometers in tandem (LC-MS/MS) identifying tylosin, spiramycin, virginiamycin, carbadox and olaquindox in animal feeds.

The method involves dissolving the feed sample in a methanol/water solution. An aliquot of the methanol/water extract solution is taken and added to a pre-conditioned solid phase extraction (SPE) column where the macrolide compounds are separated from other interfering compounds. The macrolide compounds are washed off the SPE column using methanol which is collected and evaporated with the residue containing macrolide compounds re-dissolved in dilute formic acid for analysis using LC-MS/MS.

Identification is based on the most abundant constituents because tylosin, spiramycin and virginiamycin are fermentation products consisting of several closely related compounds. The limits for identification are stated as 1 mg/kg for tylosin, spiramycin and virginiamycin, 4 mg/kg for carbadox and 3 mg/kg for olaquindox.

EN 17049 has been developed in accordance with European Commission Mandate M/521 to prepare standards for the determination of food contaminants implementing the framework of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules.

Further information on food legislation can be found on the Government Chemist website:

Food and feed law: Compendium of UK food and feed legislation with associated context and changes during October to December 2017 – Government Chemist Programme Report



News story: Civil news: replacement contract schedules for CWA claims

New contract schedules began on 1 April 2018 for providers to use when working online in CWA.

The schedules will run until 31 August 2018 and cover welfare benefits and standard civil contract work.

The 2018 Standard Civil Contract will begin on 1 September 2018.

Contract Schedule number
2010 standard civil contract NANNNA/MEDI2010/18
2013 standard civil contract NANNNA/2013/20
2013 welfare benefits contract NANNNA/WB/20
2014 standard civil contract NANNA/CCMH2014/22
2015 standard civil contract NANNNA/ SCC /22
2016 welfare benefits contract NANNA/WB2016/20

Further information

Submit a contracted work and administration (CWA) claim online



News story: Appointment of 2 new members of the Prison Service Pay Review Body

Mary Carter is currently lay adviser to the Multi-agency Public Protection Arrangements Strategic Management Board for Avon and Somerset. She was previously a partner in KPMG and a former member of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body and of the National Assembly of Wales Remuneration Board.

Luke Corkill is currently Employee Relations Director in BT with responsibilities in the UK and Globally. Prior to his Employee Relations role, he led the Openreach customer facing engineering organisation for the South East of England. His roles have involved regular interaction with two major UK Trade Unions (Prospect and the Communication Workers Union).

PSPRB provides the government with independent advice on the remuneration of operational prison staff in the England and Wales, and Northern Ireland Prison Services.

Public appointments to PSPRB are made by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of the Justice Secretary, and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. These appointments have been made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Mary Carter and Luke Corkill have no political activity to declare.