Environment Agency Launches Criminal Investigation into Large-Scale Illegal Dump Near Hinckley

Authorities have launched a full-scale criminal investigation following the discovery of a massive illegal waste site near Hinckley, Leicestershire. The site, which was uncovered in early August, is estimated to contain approximately 5,000 cubic metres of refuse, prompting an urgent appeal for public assistance.

The sprawling dump, located on land off the A47 Leicester Road, contains a variety of discarded materials, including contents consistent with household skips. Investigators have also noted that the perpetrators utilized heavy goods machinery to construct a soil embankment around the perimeter, a calculated effort to conceal the illegal tipping activities from public view.

A “Sickening” Act of Environmental Crime

Following the site’s initial discovery, a joint operation between Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and the Leicestershire Police’s Rural Crime team was mobilized to secure the area and collect evidence. Two vehicles suspected of being involved in the illegal dumping operations were seized by the council under local authority powers.

With the site now secured and no longer active, the Environment Agency (EA) has assumed responsibility for the criminal investigation.

“This is a sickening case of large-scale illegal waste dumping, and we share the public’s disgust,” an EA spokesperson stated. “Waste crime scars communities and the environment, and in line with our 10-point plan, we’re acting quickly to tackle illegal activity.”

Community Urged to Help

Officials are calling on the public to act as “eyes and ears” to assist in bringing those responsible to justice. Investigators are particularly interested in gathering any dashcam, mobile phone, or CCTV footage that may have captured suspicious activity in the area.

Stuart Bray, leader of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, condemned the actions as a “serious and deliberate act of waste crime.”

“Those responsible have not only dumped a large amount of waste; they have taken steps to hide what they were doing,” Bray said. “Our priority now is to support the Environment Agency’s investigation, secure the evidence and make sure those responsible are held to account, including for the clean-up.”

The Environment Agency is urging residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately, specifically the presence of tipper, skip, or articulated lorries entering derelict sites or agricultural land.

How to Report Information

The public is encouraged to contact the Environment Agency’s 24/7 incident hotline at 0800 80 70 60 (quoting incident number 02544976) or contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.

The discovery of this illegal waste dump underscores the growing challenges faced by regulators in combating environmental crime. These issues are set to be a focal point of the upcoming National Waste Crime Conference, scheduled for 3 November 2026 in London, which will gather industry leaders and enforcement professionals to address the evolving regulatory landscape.