REVEALED: Scale of waste crimes 'inflicting misery' in Norfolk |
Nearly 1,300 reports of fly tipping, illegal waste burning and dumping have been made to the Environment Agency (EA) over a five-year period.
In the same time frame, just two people have been convicted in the county for these offences - although several more will have been fined for fly tipping.
Waste crimes are predominantly being reported in the rural districts of West Norfolk and Breckland, with illegal waste burning being the most common crime reported to the EA.
The findings, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, come as peers in the House of Lords have warned the EA's multi-agency waste crime unit is largely "ineffective".
Waste illegally dumped in the countryside is a continued problem for farmers in Norfolk (Image: EA)
Between 2020 and 2025, the EA received 719 reports for the burning of waste and 471 reports for illegal waste sites.
There were also 72 reports of fly tipping received but this crime is largely dealt with by local councils.
The EA has refused to reveal the exact details of the location of the reports, because it may "identify a person".
But the figures have shown the parts of Norfolk were the majority of these potential crimes have been reported.
West Norfolk has the highest number of waste crime allegations, totalling 446.
A screenshot of the Environment Agency heat map, showing an area west of King's Lynn to be a hotspot for waste crimes (Image: Environment Agency)
The majority of waste crimes in this district are reported in the western Fens, covering villages such as Walton Highway, Terrington St Clement and the Walpoles, according to an EA report.
Breckland follows with 374 offences........