Toxic imports data needed
Page 10
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by Karen Miles • Interpol has admitted that there is insufficient police control over rogue operators who illegally import toxic waste.
Now the UK arm of the international police contact organisation wants to promote a public discussion, encouraging domestic police forces and governments to give this problem a higher priority.
Paul Andrews, the only Interpol UK officer dealing with the issue, says intelligence needs to be gathered on operators who import and illegally dump the chemicals.
Speaking last week, Andrews said it was impossible to check every container and lorry entering the UK's ports, but added: "We want to increase the enforcement effort on the people who are actually doing this." He admitted that the authorities do not really know the scale of the problem.
Criminals are said to view the UK as an easy target because it is one of the few European countries without a policy body briefed to combat this kind of crime.
Toxic waste is being dumped in landfill sites that should only deal with non-toxic substances, allowing it to seep into the water system. Loads are also left to fester in warehouses.
The Environment Agency. the UK regulatory body, denies there are "huge problems" and claims it is dealing with the issue "quite effectively". But it would like Customs officers to be trained to recognise chemicals.
The Department of Transport is considering how to deal with the illegal international flow of chemicals.
It hopes to raise awareness among the enforcement agencies and to strengthen co-operation between them. A DOT spokeswoman denies this area is underfunded.