Robust national action to crackdown on fly-tipping has been welcomed by the county's Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews.

The Government has announced its plans to introduce tougher legislation this summer against offenders and an increased funding package for the new national Rural Crime Unit.

It comes after the National Rural Crime Network (NRCN) published a six-point plan to tackle fly-tipping which called for new laws to be introduced to increase the penalties for those caught committing the crime and a new dedicated post in the national Rural Crime Unit focused on reducing fly-tipping. 

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews, who has pledged to increase support and protection for rural communities in his Police and Crime Plan, said the action was a big step forward and would help increase the number of offenders caught and prosecuted for fly-tipping.

Rupert Matthews. Image credit: Office of the Rutland and Leicestershire PCC.

He said: "Fly-tipping has a serious impact on community life and costs the UK economy millions of pounds every year. We need to send a strong and clear message to offenders that this behaviour will not be tolerated and that the penalties awaiting those caught for such offending are severe.

"I'm particularly supportive of the Government's proposals to ringfence any income from fines to fund further action on fly-tipping. This will help sustain a tougher approach to enforcement in the future and will provide local authorities with more scope to protect communities at high-risk of these problems."

Last summer, the PCC bolstered Leicestershire Police's Rural Crime Team from three to eight officers. Since then, the team has delivered outstanding results.

To date, the team has recovered more than £800k of stolen farm equipment and plant machinery and remains on course to hit the £1m mark in June - exactly a year after their expansion. They have also made significant arrests, stepped up cross border working, disrupted serious and organised crime and encouraged greater reporting of rural crime. 

Tim Passmore, NRCN Chair, said: "The rural economy is hugely important, employing thousands of people and making an enormous contribution to the United Kingdom's economy and general wellbeing.

"I am delighted to learn what various government departments will be delivering to support rural communities and businesses as these proposals, if properly implemented, will be of great benefit to us all."

Items are left in local hedge rows, fields and allotments. Image credit: Office of the Rutland and Leicestershire PCC.

This comes after, last month, Rutland and Melton's MP Alicia Kearns shared her enthusiasm to crack down on 'selfish fly-tipping in the local area.

Read more here.

Ms Kearns said: "I'm keen to map out where the hotspots for fly-tipping are in our communities, so I can ensure our Councils know where they are and together we can crackdown on this selfish crime.

"If you have a few spare minutes please fill out my survey online."