A 32-year-old man was arrested in Sunderland on Thursday, 1 October, in connection with an ongoing Environment Agency investigation into illegal waste dumping in the North East. The arrest was made in a joint operation involving Northumbria Police and the Environment Agency.
The man is currently in custody and is being questioned regarding the illegal dumping of waste at the former Dewhirst site in Peterlee and at Hart Quarry in Hartlepool. This arrest is part of a broader investigation that also includes a third site near Newcastle Airport at Callerton, Newcastle.
Mark Rumble, Environmental Crime Team Leader at the Environment Agency, stated that the arrest is an important step in the investigation. Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle commented that the arrest shows the government is delivering on its promise to tackle organised criminal gangs involved in waste dumping.
The three sites were reported to the Environment Agency over the summer and were subsequently shut down with concrete blocks put in place to prevent access. Investigating officers have gathered evidence at the sites to help identify those responsible.