Tackling Fly-Tipping: Protecting Our Countryside and Rural Communities
As Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset and a board member of the National Rural Crime Network (NRCN), I am proud to support efforts which shine a spotlight on the challenges facing our rural communities and the actions needed to address them.
One issue that continues to blight our countryside is fly-tipping. What some may dismiss as discarded rubbish is, in reality, a serious crime that damages our environment, harms wildlife, places financial burdens on landowners and farmers, and undermines confidence in rural policing and public services.
The National Rural Crime Network has consistently highlighted the growing impact of waste crime on rural communities. Across the country, farmers, landowners and residents are reporting increasing incidents of illegal dumping, often at significant personal and financial cost. Research and campaigning by rural organisations show that many incidents occur on private land, meaning the true scale of the problem is likely far greater than official figures suggest.
The National Rural Crime Network’s (NRCN) recent Future Countryside report on fly-tipping reinforces what rural communities have been telling us for years - fly-tipping is not a victimless crime. It is often linked to organised criminality, illegal waste operations and offenders who view rural areas as easy targets. Those responsible leave others to bear the cost of their actions while causing lasting damage to the landscapes we value and depend upon.
The NRCN has long championed stronger action against waste crime, calling for better coordination between enforcement agencies, tougher penalties for offenders, improved intelligence sharing and greater support for victims. These are priorities that I strongly support.
In Dorset, we continue to work closely with partners, local authorities, landowners and rural communities through the Dorset Partnership Against Rural crime to tackle rural crime in all its forms. Preventing fly-tipping requires a combination of robust enforcement, effective reporting mechanisms and public awareness. It also requires a commitment to ensuring that rural communities receive the attention and resources they deserve.
That is why I am proud to continue funding a dedicated fly-tipping enforcement officer within Dorset Council. This investment is already delivering tangible results, strengthening the council’s ability to investigate incidents, identify offenders and build robust cases that lead to meaningful enforcement action.
In 2025, Dorset Council issued 80 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for waste-related offences—almost double the number issued the previous year. Of these, 33 were specifically for fly-tipping offences, compared with 18 in 2024. These figures demonstrate a determined and proactive approach to tackling environmental crime and send a clear message that those who choose to blight our countryside and communities will be pursued and held accountable. This is not about symbolic action. It is about delivering real consequences for offenders and showing residents, farmers and landowners that Dorset will not tolerate waste crime and fly-tipping.
More recently I have also joined with members of the Dorset Partnership Against Rural Crime to launch a summer green waste campaign encouraging members of the public to ensure they properly dispose of their green waste when clearing their gardens ready for summer. Find out more about the campaign here.
I would encourage anyone who witnesses fly-tipping or suspicious waste activity to report it. Intelligence from local communities plays a vital role in helping agencies identify offenders and build a clearer picture of where problems are occurring. You can find out more about how to report on the Country Watch website.
I am hugely proud of Dorset’s beautiful countryside. It supports livelihoods, provides spaces for recreation and wellbeing, and forms an essential part of our heritage. Protecting it from waste crime and fly-tipping must remain a shared responsibility.
David Sidwick
Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset