A 49-year old man who operated an illegal waste site at Sunnyside, on Barnby Road, Balderton, Newark, has been fined £840 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £2,000 in a case heard at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 24 August 2021.

Tony Briggs-Price, of Barnby Road, Balderton, was successfully prosecuted by the Environment Agency for storing, treating and disposing of waste on land at his home on Barnby Road, Newark, without an environmental permit.

Briggs-Price had previously worked in the waste industry, and was familiar with the legal requirements associated with environmental regulation.

On visiting the site in November 2018, Environment Agency and Nottinghamshire Police officers found large piles of waste, including approximately 100 tonnes of construction and demolition waste; approximately 160 tonnes of general mixed waste, including plastics and household waste; approximately 400 tonnes of soil; and approximately 1 tonne of wood waste.

They also found evidence of the recent burning of waste on the site, including smoke from the waste site, scorch marks and ash on the ground; smouldering and scorched metal items; and blackened metal coils (consistent with burning of mattresses).

The defendant had ignored three separate invitations to attend an interview under caution in 2019.

Speaking after the case Robert Vickers, the investigating officer at the Environment Agency, said:

We hope this case will send a clear message that we do not hesitate to take action to protect the environment and bring perpetrators to justice. Mr Briggs-Price operated the site without the required permit which, as well as undermining the regulatory regime, also had an impact on lawful waste operators.

We are actively targeting illegal waste activities across the country and would urge all those seeking to become involved in the waste industry to ensure they have the appropriate permits and authorisations in place before commencing their operations.

Businesses and householders should carry out checks to ensure that they are using legitimate companies to deal with their waste. To check if a waste carrier is genuine visit the public register

Anyone who suspects a company is operating illegally can call the Environment Agency 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60 or report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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As part of a wider look at what employers can do to enhance the support for domestic abuse survivors, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has now joined the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA) as a Beacon member.

Becoming an EIDA Beacon will increase the support for employees who may have been victims or at risk of domestic abuse, by raising awareness and education among staff, as well as providing additional resources and advice.

The announcement follows a wider BEIS consultation, aimed at increasing support for victims of domestic abuse across the UK, including a recent report in January 2021 looking at workplace support.

The report found that few employers have been aware of the signs of domestic abuse, and an even smaller number have a clear policy in place to support survivors.

Joining EIDA is a quick and free step employers can take towards furthering their support for victims of domestic abuse.

Business Minister Paul Scully said:

Home should always be a safe place, but for many this sadly isn’t the case. For anyone experiencing or at risk from domestic abuse, I want to make sure help and support is readily available to them in the workplace.

No one should have to suffer in silence, and that’s why my department is joining the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse to ensure employees get the support they need. I would urge more businesses to join this important initiative, as this simple step could have a life-changing impact on domestic abuse survivors.

The benefits of becoming an EIDA Beacon include:

• access to a suite of training and development, including access to specialists who can offer a strategic review of domestic abuse and action for the department
• dedicated account management to implement HR processes and procedures to support victims, survivors, and potential perpetrators

BEIS joins several organisations already part of the Beacon programme. For more details on the current membership, please see the EIDA website.

Earlier this year, in an open letter to all UK employers, Minister Scully outlined key steps they can take to build awareness of domestic abuse and ensure they are noticing warning signs, and help workers access the support they need.

Elizabeth Filkin CBE, Chair of the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse said:

We are delighted to welcome the Department for Business to the EIDA network. We also thank the Minister and his team for all they have already done to raise awareness of the role of employers in tackling domestic abuse.

Working with government, charities, and opinion formers to stop domestic abuse and to get help for victims, there has been much progress in recognising the scale and impact of abuse and what steps business can take to stop it. But there is more to do. The BEIS contribution to our network will enable us to make great strides forward toward our aim of ending domestic abuse once and for all.

You can find out more about EIDA and join for free on the EIDA website.

View the national domestic abuse helpline.

There is also a range of free guidance for both employers and employees to support domestic abuse survivors in the workplace, including toolkits from organisations such as:

It is also free to join the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse.