Environment Agency Officers led a series of rod licence enforcement patrols around various sites in Essex and Norfolk, on the back of intelligence received. They were joined by colleagues from Essex and Norfolk Police forces, the Broads Authority and volunteer bailiffs from the Angling Trust.

Over a total of three days (6, 9 and 10 September 2017), eight Essex fisheries were checked, and one river stretch patrolled in Norfolk (the River Bure).

Officers checked dozens of anglers, stressing the importance of buying a rod licence and explaining how the income is reinvested in fisheries. A total of 224 rod licences were checked and 23 offenders identified (a 10.26% evasion rate).

Lesley Robertson, Enforcement Team Leader at the Environment Agency, said:

These checks were badged under the name Operation Springfield II. The Operation focused on rod licence evasion and raising awareness of the need for anglers to purchase and renew their rod licences.

Our Officers patrol the watercourses all year round, including holidays and weekends. Those who avoid buying a rod licence and are found fishing illegally may face prosecution and a hefty fine. Anglers should ensure they are properly licensed before going out to enjoy this worthwhile hobby.

Essex Police Rural and Heritage Crime Officer, PC Andrew Long, said:

Like other forces across the UK, Essex Police have joined with the Environment Agency and Angling Trust to work together and tackle criminality surrounding theft of fish and unlawful fishing.

This has an impact on one of the country’s most popular pastimes, with more than 1.5 million people buying rod licences every year.

Taking part in unlawful fishing can have a detrimental effect on the environment so it’s important for us to work in partnership with the Environment Agency and ensure everyone has the correct licence to do this.

Sales of junior fishing licences across England and Wales, have received a welcome boost over the summer, according to the latest figures from the Environment Agency. The figures reveal junior fishing licence sales increased by 25.7% from 2016/17. The fishing licence, which is now free for 12 to16 year olds, shows figures increased from 52,117 at the end of 2016/17 to 65,487 as of 21 August 2017.

The increase in sales is welcomed by the Environment Agency which highlighted the challenge of attracting juniors to the sport given the popularity of game consoles, TV and social media. The rise in sales figures was helped by last year’s changes to fishing licences which included making them free to anyone aged 12 to16*.

Figures from 2009 to 2016 showed a 52.6% decline in junior licence sales reaching just 52,117 in 2016. It’s hoped that the recent increase marks the start of an upward trend that will help secure the future of the sport. The free juniors fishing licence is supported by hundreds of partnership fishing events run alongside partners including the Angling Trust, Get Hooked on Fishing and National Fishing Month. The events include free family fun days and taster sessions which help remove barriers for juniors and families enabling them to consider taking up fishing.

Kevin Austin, Head of Fisheries at the Environment Agency, said:

Children today have a wealth of technology at their fingertips, and coupled with the costs parents face, it’s easy to see why fewer children are enjoying outdoor activities. We’re really pleased to see that a growing number of young people are taking up the offer of a free junior licence, helping them to enjoy the great outdoors and this great sport.

Today’s children are the anglers of tomorrow. It’s important we attract them to the sport early and offering a free fishing licence is one way to achieve that. Not only does fishing offer great health and educational benefits, angling generates over £1 billion for the UK economy and creates over 37,000 full time jobs.

The Environment Agency works in partnership with the Angling Trust, Get Hooked on Fishing and National Fishing Month to offer free fishing events and activities. To find an event close to you take a look at www.getfishing.org.uk.

The free junior fishing licence is made possible as a result of income generated from adult fishing licence holders.

ENDS.

Notes to editors

• Figures quoted are for England and Wales
• *Juniors still need to get a licence in order to fish but the licence will be free www.gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence.
• These changes have also been implemented across Wales. Natural Resources Wales is the lead.
• Anglers are legally required to hold a valid fishing licence to fish in rivers, lakes and other inland waters in England (except the River Tweed) and the Border Esk (and its tributaries) in Scotland.

The Environment Agency and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) have agreed on steps to stop illegal waste carriers and improve road safety in England.

Sir James Bevan, Environment Agency Chief Executive, and Gareth Llewellyn, DVSA Chief Executive, signed an agreement today (12 September 2017) in London.

How being a waste carrier works

Companies must register as a waste carrier if they:

• transport waste
• buy, sell or dispose of waste

However, some carriers operate illegally without the necessary licence, and don’t dispose of waste legally.

Companies who use a waste carrier must check they’re registered to dispose of waste, and not allow the waste carrier to dispose of their waste illegally.

Every year waste crime costs taxpayers and businesses £1 billion. The Environment Agency spent almost £15 million stopping illegal waste activity between April 2015 and March 2016.

What the agreement will do

The Environment Agency and DVSA will share intelligence and carry out joint operations in England to:

• stop waste being illegally transported
• target unsafe drivers and vehicles

The agreement will see:

• DVSA staff working within Environment Agency teams, making sure enforcement action is coordinated and effective
• information and intelligence shared between the 2 agencies, increasing the effectiveness of roadside enforcement activity on waste industry vehicles
• enforcement teams provided with up-to date and relevant intelligence about waste industry operators

This will all help to:

• identify high-risk or illegal goods vehicle operators who are involved in the transport of waste
• reduce the number of seriously and serially non-compliant waste industry vehicles on England’s roads

Report unsafe operators

You can report any information you have about unsafe vehicle operators to DVSA.

Building on years of joint work

For a number of years, the Environment Agency and DVSA have worked together to stop waste crime, making sure companies are operating legally and vehicle safety is improved.

Gareth Llewellyn said:

DVSA priority is to protect you from unsafe drivers and vehicles.

I am delighted that we will be working with the Environment Agency to tackle those who illegally transport waste. By combining our enforcement powers and intelligence we’ll be able to target those who break the rules more effectively.

DVSA traffic examiners will issue fines to those waste carriers we find to be operating in an unsafe manner. These operators are putting themselves and other road users at risk and pose a danger to our environment.

Sir James Bevan said:

We want to protect people and communities from the impact that vehicle and waste crime can have and create a level playing field for all operators.

This memorandum of understanding with DVSA will help both organisations target the waste industry to improve compliance and vehicle and driver safety standards.

To help us with this, we are encouraging people to check with the Environment Agency if the company they are employing to take their waste away is a fully registered waste carrier.

Organised criminals are known to be targeting sites in the West Midlands where they are either requesting to store waste which has been baled or claiming they will use the site for other means like vehicle storage, and then filling the site with baled waste instead.

Landowners are being duped by these criminals with the promise of payment for storage, but even if an initial cash payment is made, the further promised monies don’t appear. Instead their land is filled up with the waste and they are left with clean-up costs that can run into the hundreds of thousands of pounds, or potentially a fine or custodial sentence leaving them with a criminal conviction on their record if the waste is not moved or disposed of in an appropriate manner.

The waste bales are being transported using curtain sided lorries and unloaded from the lorries using fork lift trucks. We would urge transport companies and plant hire companies to also be vigilant and not become part of this illegal activity.

Marc Lidderth, Environment Manager said:

A number of recent vehicle stops in the West Midlands found HGVs attempting to dispose of potentially illegal waste. These vehicles were stopped and the waste sent back to the original locations. The Environment Agency and police are investigating but we are unable to give any details at this time as it may damage any further investigations.

The storage of any baled or processed waste is not allowed without an environmental permit being in place. We are sending this warning to landowners, hauliers and plant hire companies to remain vigilant and to prevent them becoming a victim of this scam.

Waste companies, local authorities and businesses all have a responsibility to check what happens to their waste. We have specialist teams who work in partnership with the police and agencies like HMRC to tackle waste crime. This specialist crime unit uses intelligence to track and prosecute organised crime gangs involved in illegal waste activity.

If you or your company are approached or have any information about those involved in this scam please contact the Environment Agency via their incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously online via Crimestoppers or by calling 0800 555 111.

It will take place on Saturday 7 October 2017, from 9am to 3pm.

No-one ever knows where or when the next flood will occur, but with 1 in 6 properties at risk across the UK, the public are being urged to check if their property is one of them, and do everything they can to prepare if it is. This day aims to give the people of Kent the opportunity to find ways of reducing the impact of flooding both to their homes and their communities.

Local residents will be able to see a range of practical events. These will include demonstrations of the Environment Agency’s demountable defences and building sand bag walls. There will also be lively talks, workshops and an exhibition area where practitioners, including Kent Emergency Planners, Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue and many more, will be on hand to give expert advice. The day will take place at:

Steve Scully, Senior Resilience Officer with the Kent Resilience Team, said:

This event brings together the network of support organisations that exist to warn and inform people but that also provide training and infrastructure to help build robust local community plans that we action if and when it floods.

Jenny Newham, Environment Agency Engagement Officer added:

This event has been designed around feedback from our volunteer community flood wardens across Kent and aims to inform and enthuse individuals and community groups about the local roles they can undertake to help be prepared.

For more information or to register for this event, please e-mail krf.events@kent.fire-uk.org or via jenny.newham@environment-agency.gov.uk.

For all media enquiries, please call 0800 141 2743.