Environment Minister Alex Attwood has revealed that the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) deals with 10 reported pollution incidents every day.

This was highlighted when he launched the NIEA's first Compliance and Enforcement Report. The report highlights robust action to address the problem. Almost three quarters of a million pounds has been recovered in fines and assets recovery within this period.

The report reflects the range of measures taken to prevent our landscape being blighted by contaminated land, illegal waste disposal and poisoned waters.

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Mr Attwood said: "People are distressed when they hear about fish killed in their local river or toxic waste abandoned where children might play. That's why the NIEA needs to be a strong and effective regulator and why it takes more than 2,000 enforcement actions a year. But behind this front line activity the Agency also maintains a busy schedule of thousands of inspections and monitoring visits."

He added: "This report highlights for the first time the extensive reach of NIEA's enforcement activity in protecting the environment. Not only about the 'hard side' like court cases, fines and prosecutions, but also about the largely unseen but highly effective work in providing guidance and making routine compliance checks.

"I want to ensure that Northern Ireland businesses and landowners can prosper without adverse impacts on the environment or human health. Economic and environmental goals go hand in hand, but I must make sure that when standards are breached or crime is detected, we investigate and pursue offenders vigorously."

(CD/GK)