PCC Criticises Rural Crime Strategy for Silence on Waste Crime

27th November 2025

PCC Criticises National Rural Crime Approach for Overlooking Waste Crime

Matthew Scott, Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, has criticised the Government and Policing leadership following the publication yesterday of the NPCC rural crime strategy. Whilst it takes steps to address agricultural theft, wildlife crime and organised crime gangs, fly-tipping and waste crime receives no real attention in the plan.

Mr Scott said:

“Policing leadership and Ministers must learn from the national scandals of large scale waste crime. Organised crime groups are damaging our neighbourhoods, wildlife and heritage and don’t fear the consequences. They are making millions off the back of our rural areas, leaving taxpayers and businesses with the bill. And policing knows who they are, as they have been involved in multiple crime types.

The strategy effectively cleans its hands of flytipping and waste crime by dismissing it as the responsibility of others. Whilst different agencies do have powers, policing has a clear role to play in intelligence gathering - intelligence which is being lost due to a lack of collaboration – and stopping crimes in action.

Local policing is doing some productive work supporting partners, such as joint days of action in Kent, and Thames Valley Police’s arrest yesterday of a suspect for the dumping of waste near Kidlington.

I welcome the approach on theft and wildlife crime. But the wider system cannot be silent on waste crime – Ministers must step up and provide the capacity, capability and resources to fight back against organised waste crime, and all agencies must play their part.”

Notes to editors:

The NPCC strategy can be found here: npcc-wildlife-rural-crime-strategy-2025-2028