https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/organised-crime-flytipping
Organised criminal gangs are being blamed for the continued rise of large fly-tipping incidents across England.
https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/organised-crime-flytipping
fly-tipping shareddataunit
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Organised criminal gangs are being blamed for the continued rise of large fly-tipping incidents across England.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/organised-crime-flytipping
- Owner: BBC-Data-Unit
- Created: 2020-02-13T09:08:40.000Z (over 6 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2020-03-06T12:19:53.000Z (about 6 years ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-07-25T01:53:44.224Z (10 months ago)
- Topics: fly-tipping, shareddataunit
- Size: 68.4 KB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 4
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
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Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
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README
# Fly-tipping: Organised crime behind large rise
In February 2020 the BBC Shared Data Unit [reported](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50660138) that organised criminal gangs were being blamed for the continued rise of large fly-tipping incidents across England.
We compared official statistics on flytipping over several years, analysing the scale and cost of major fly-tipping incidents across England.
Our analysis found:
- The number of incidents of large-scale fly-tipping had more than doubled since 2012.
- Police and environmental groups said the nature of fly-tipping was changing - a shift driven by a surge in criminal gangs offering illegal waste clearing services.
- Since the 2012-13 financial year, councils in England had spent just over £59m clearing large scale tips. The bill for such incidents was at its highest in 2018-19.
- Tipper lorry loads accounted for just over 125,000 of the total number of major incidents, while “significant/multi-loads” were recorded for just under 67,000 major incidents.
This piece of content was produced by a regional newspaper reporter working alongside BBC staff.
The Shared Data Unit makes data journalism available to news organisations across the media industry, as part of a partnership between the BBC and the News Media Association. Stories generated by the partnership included:
* Bristol Live: [The thousands spent clearing up mounds of fly-tipping dumped in Berkshire by criminal gangs](https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/thousands-spent-clearing-up-mounds-17727242) *13 February 2020*
* Bromsgrove Advertiser: [Organised criminal gangs are dumping lorry-loads of rubbish](https://www.bromsgroveadvertiser.co.uk/news/regional/gloucestershire/18232344.organised-criminal-gangs-dumping-lorry-loads-rubbish/) *13 February 2020*
* The Comet: [North Hertfordshire records 34 per cent spike in fly-tipping offences](https://www.thecomet.net/news/nhdc-fly-tipping-offences-34-higher-than-previous-year-1-6511721) *13 February 2020*
* Chichester Observer: [Large-scale fly-tipping on the rise in West Sussex – and ‘rogue traders’ are to blame](https://www.chichester.co.uk/news/crime/large-scale-fly-tipping-rise-west-sussex-and-rogue-traders-are-blame-1571563) *13 February 2020*
* Chronicle Live: [More than £13,000 paid in fines by fly-tippers and waste dumpers in South Tyneside](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/more-13000-paid-fines-fly-17741494) *13 February 2020*
* Gloucestershire Live: [Criminal gangs are behind a fly-tipping epidemic in Gloucestershire](https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/lorry-loads-rubbish-being-dumped-3841309) *13 February 2020*
* Llanelli Online: [Carmarthenshire records highest cost for dealing with fly tipping](http://www.llanellionline.news/carmarthenshire-records-highest-cost-for-dealing-with-fly-tipping) *13 February 2020*
* North Norfolk News: [Call to dump DIY waste charge amid record fly tipping in part of Norfolk](https://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/news/most-fly-tipping-in-north-norfolk-in-seven-years-as-council-leader-calls-for-diy-charges-to-be-dumped-1-6512215) *13 February 2020*
* Northamptonshire Telegraph: [Kettering major fly-tipping clearance costs rocket](https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/environment/kettering-major-fly-tipping-clearance-costs-rocket-1574105) *13 February 2020*
* Peterborough Telegraph: [Criminal gangs dump hundreds of lorry-load fly-tips in Peterborough](https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/crime/criminal-gangs-dump-hundreds-lorry-load-fly-tips-peterborough-1555302) *13 February 2020*
* Portsmouth News: [Local councils have spent almost £300,000 on major fly-tips since 2012, new figures show](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/politics/council/local-councils-have-spent-almost-ps300000-major-fly-tips-2012-new-figures-show-1556481) *13 February 2020*
* Romford Recorder: [Revealed: Large scale fly-tipping incidents cost Havering Council more than £43,000 last year](https://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/havering-council-major-fly-tipping-incidents-1-6511681) *13 February 2020*
* Shields Gazette: [Six-figure cost to South Tyneside taxpayers of clearing up after fly-tippers is revealed](https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/environment/six-figure-cost-south-tyneside-taxpayers-clearing-after-fly-tippers-revealed-1563968) *13 February 2020*
* Sunderland Echo: ['No excuses for fly tipping in Sunderland' as near million-pound cost to taxpayers is revealed](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/people/no-excuses-fly-tipping-sunderland-near-million-pound-cost-taxpayers-revealed-1564452) *13 February 2020*
* Wilts and Gloustershire Standard: [Organised criminal gangs are dumping lorry-loads of rubbish](https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/18232344.organised-criminal-gangs-dumping-lorry-loads-rubbish) *13 February 2020*
* Worthing Herald: [Six-figure cost of empty business units in Worthing, Adur and Arun revealed](https://www.worthingherald.co.uk/business/six-figure-cost-empty-business-units-worthing-adur-and-arun-revealed-1384378) *13 February 2020*
* Yorkshire Post: [Criminals are fly-tipping lorryfuls of waste in Yorkshire - and it's costing us half a million each year](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/crime/criminals-are-fly-tipping-lorryfuls-of-waste-in-yorkshire-and-it-s-costing-us-half-a-million-each-year-1-10253799) *13 February 2020*
* Berkshire Live: [The thousands spent clearing up mounds of fly-tipping dumped in Berkshire by criminal gangs](https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/thousands-spent-clearing-up-mounds-17727242) *14 February 2020*
* Express and Star: [Gangs dump lorry loads of rubbish as figures reveal fly-tipping frenzy](https://www.expressandstar.com/news/crime/2020/02/15/gangs-dump-lorry-loads-of-rubbish-as-figures-reveal-fly-tipping-frenzy/) *14 February 2020*
* Eastern Daily Press: [Responsibility falls on homeowners to cut flytipping "at its very source"](https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/major-fly-tipping-on-the-increase-across-norfolk-1-6516483) *14 February 2020*
* Harrogate Advertiser: [Large scale fly tipping in Harrogate triples in 8 years - costing the taxpayer almost £30,000](https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/council/large-scale-fly-tipping-harrogate-triples-8-years-costing-taxpayer-almost-ps30000-1613403) *14 February 2020*
* Liverpool Echo: [Criminal gangs behind rise in 'new narcotics' blighting our streets](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/criminal-gangs-behind-rise-new-17745776) *14 February 2020*
* Nantwich News: [Fly-tipping: the full cost to Cheshire East taxpayers](https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2020/02/14/fly-tipping-the-full-cost-to-cheshire-east-taxpayers/) *14 February 2020*
* Northampton Chronicle: [Northampton Borough Council pays out nearly £100,000 in flytipping clean-up fees](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/people/northampton-borough-council-pays-out-nearly-ps100000-flytipping-clean-fees-1740737) *14 February 2020*
* Rochdale News: [Major fly-tipping rates in Rochdale one of highest in country last year](https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/132756/major-flytipping-rates-in-rochdale-one-of-highest-in-country-last-year) *14 February 2020*
* Great Yarmouth Mercury: [Responsibility falls on homeowners to cut flytipping "at its very source"](https://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/major-fly-tipping-on-the-increase-across-norfolk-1-6516483) *15 February 2020*
* Scarbrough News: [Large-scale fly tipping in Scarborough borough doubles in eight years - costing the taxpayer thousands](https://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/news/politics/council/large-scale-fly-tipping-scarborough-borough-doubles-eight-years-costing-taxpayer-thousands-1758293) *14 February 2020*
* Lancaster and Morecambe Citizen: [Fly-tipping rises sharply as 'gangs dump industrial quantities of waste'](https://www.thelancasterandmorecambecitizen.co.uk/news/18239969.lorries-involved-east-lancs-fly-tipping-rises-sharply/) *17 February 2020*
* Lancashire Telegraph: [Fly-tipping rises sharply in Blackburn with Darwen and Hyndburn](https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/18239969.lorries-involved-east-lancs-fly-tipping-rises-sharply/) *17 February 2020*
* Pontefract and Castleford Express: [Councils are counting the cost of organised criminal flytipping gangs](https://www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk/news/crime/councils-are-counting-cost-organised-criminal-flytipping-gangs-1886398) *21 February 2020*
* Wakefield Express: [Councils are counting the cost of organised criminal flytipping gangs](https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/crime/councils-are-counting-cost-organised-criminal-flytipping-gangs-1886398) *21 February 2020*
* Evesham Journal: [Costs of fly-tipping in Dudley revealed](https://www.eveshamjournal.co.uk/news/regional/18258174.costs-fly-tipping-dudley-revealed/) *24 February 2020*
* Brent and Kilburn Times: [Mass rubbish dumping in Alperton is a 'criminal act' says council](https://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/environment/mass-fly-tipping-in-alperton-1-6531200) *25 February 2020*
* Essex County Standard: [Colchester Council spent £620k cleaning up flytipping](https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/18257830.colchester-council-spent-620k-cleaning-flytipping/) *25 February 2020*
* Halesowen News: [Costs of fly-tipping in Dudley revealed](https://www.halesowennews.co.uk/news/18258176.costs-fly-tipping-dudley-revealed/) *25 February 2020*
* Ham & High: [Fly-tipping: Camden's spending nearly doubles to £791,000 in 2018-19](https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/environment/fly-tipping-camden-s-spending-nearly-doubles-to-791-000-in-2018-19-1-6532178) *26 February 2020*
The story was also used by BBC Breakfast television, BBC News at One, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio 2 - Jeremy Vine
## Visualisation
* Embedded digital video: Tackling the fly-tippers who dump by the truckload
* Line chart: The rising cost of large fly-tipping to English councils 2012-19
* Map: Clean-ups of a lorry-load or more in each English district per 10,000 people 2018-19
## Here is the data
* [Major fly-tipping data](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sCM9rUKaSQxZ-Mo92uQK7hBfFfaJ4nhDRHQEyncNlsM/edit#gid=0)
## Background and briefing
* [A full briefing pack on the story can be found here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xs5OrqJrYgFmERcIXJ_tUrUHKDHXHt_jLUPxcVkffuA/edit)