Multi-Agency operation helps tackle illegal waste activity

Fingal County Council’s Waste Enforcement Section has taken part in a multi-agency checkpoint operation to tackle illegal waste activities and to ensure compliance with waste regulations in terms of movement of waste materials.

Dublin City Council in its role as lead authority for the Eastern Midlands WERLA (Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authority), coordinated yesterday's operation on behalf of An Garda Síochána’s Dublin Metropolitan Region’s Multi-Agency Forum.

This intelligence led vehicle check point was conducted in Fingal, in an area known for significant waste activity. The check points were located both northbound and southbound on a main artery within close proximity to the M1 to capture waste movements within the area and en route to other counties outside of Fingal.

Representative agencies for this joint operation included An Garda Síochána, Fingal County Council’s Waste Enforcement Section, Dublin City Council’s Waste Enforcement Section, the Road Safety Authority and the National Trans Frontier Shipment Office (NTFSO).

The Dublin Metropolitan Region is one out of four of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s multi-agency regional networks, which, enable a multi-faceted enforcement approach by bringing together key stakeholders.

The participation of different agencies proved to be very beneficial. Multi-agency operations such as this have a positive deterrent effect on criminality, help to raise awareness and lead to positive outcomes relating not only to waste but other offences also.

The Eastern Midlands WERLA will continue to support the Garda multi-regional networks by building on their established links supporting a co-ordinated approach to waste enforcement across the Region.

Fingal County Council supports this collaborative approach and will provide further assistance  through multi-agency operations to help combat illegal dumping and tackle unauthorised waste collectors.