Ireland
UK
Scotland
London
Only 262 people out of 900 being investigated for waste crime in Northern Ireland were convicted over the last 10 years it has been revealed.
The news came to light in an answer to an Assembly Question.
Ulster Unionist Environment Spokesperson, Harold McKee MLA, said he was shocked at the low conviction rate.
He said: "These sorts of organised waste crimes are not a victimless act – aside from the immediate threats to our renowned biodiversity, human health can be affected through potential contamination of our water supplies and local rivers.
"There are areas in Northern Ireland, such as South Armagh and other border areas, that have been plagued with the dumping of products associated with the criminal enterprise of fuel laundering over recent years.
"The revelation therefore that only 292 people, of the 900 that the Environmental Crime Unit had sent files on to the PPS, have been successfully prosecuted is shocking. Whilst a small number of the remaining cases will be continuing, the reality is there are hundreds of people walking the streets who the ECU suspected enough of being involved in serious or organised waste crime to refer their case to the PPS.
"The Police and the ECU will never be able to truly clamp down on waste crime unless the courts are stringently enforcing the law and punishing those guilty of breaking it."
(CD/MH)
