Bassetlaw MP Jo White has thrown her support behind a major new government crackdown on fly-tipping, which the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) says will include tougher penalties, extra funding, and a dedicated drone team to catch illegal dumpers in the act.

Sharing the news with Bassetlaw residents on her official page this morning, the MP said:

“Fly-tipping is a crime, and we are taking action to stop it.”

— Jo White MP, Member of Parliament for Bassetlaw

What the crackdown involves

The government says it has already closed 1,205 illegal waste sites since the start of 2024 and is now stepping up enforcement further. Key measures announced include:

  • A new national drone team with 33 trained pilots to spot illegal dumping from the air and help police on-the-ground enforcement.
  • An extra £45 million of investment to combat waste crime, supporting farmers, businesses and landowners whose land is regularly targeted by fly-tippers.
  • New powers to add penalty points to the driving licences of convicted fly-tippers, with potential driving bans for the most serious or repeat offenders.
  • A requirement for convicted offenders to carry out 20 hours of community clean-up work as part of their sentence.

Why it matters in Bassetlaw

Fly-tipping has been a long-running source of frustration across Bassetlaw, with reports of everything from household waste dumped in country lanes around Worksop, Retford and the surrounding villages, to larger-scale dumping on farmland and former industrial sites. Rural landowners in particular have complained that the cost of clearing up dumped waste often falls on them, even when they are the victims of the crime.

Bassetlaw District Council operates a fly-tipping reporting service and residents can report incidents – including photographs and locations – through the council's website. Offenders convicted at court can already face unlimited fines and prosecution costs; today's government announcement adds driving-licence points and mandatory clean-up work to that list of potential sanctions.

How to report fly-tipping in Bassetlaw

Suspected fly-tipping in Bassetlaw can be reported to the council at bassetlaw.gov.uk or by calling the council's customer services team. If you witness fly-tipping in progress, do not approach the individuals involved – note down as much detail as possible, including a vehicle registration if it is safe to do so, and report it immediately.

Anonymous reports about waste crime can also be made to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.