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<p>The Government is committed to tackling fly-tipping on a number of fronts. In 2016
we gave local authorities the power to issue fixed penalty notices for small scale
fly-tipping. We have enhanced the Environment Agency and local authorities’ powers
to search and seize vehicles of suspected fly-tippers. It is for local authorities
to use the full range of powers available to them.</p><p>We worked with the Sentencing
Council when they strengthened the Sentencing Guidelines for environmental offences
in 2014. The maximum penalty on indictment for fly-tipping is imprisonment of up to
five years or a potentially unlimited fine. Minister Coffey will shortly be writing
to Ministry of Justice Ministers on the matter of sentencing, and we will work with
those involved in the court system to ensure sentencing levels act as an appropriate
deterrent.</p><p>As part of our Resource and Waste Strategy we will develop further
proposals to tackle fly-tipping. We will facilitate partnership working and intelligence
sharing between organisations at a local level, including local authorities, and encourage
local authorities and the Environment Agency to investigate incidents on private land.</p>
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