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Cannabis farm fly-tips a 'plague' on countryside

Tony FisherBedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire
News imageNorth Herts District Council A fly-tip in the countryside with various bits of cardboard and tubes covered in foil used in cannabis factories. Grass and long weeds surround the dumped waste.North Herts District Council

The dumping of waste from illegal cannabis farms in the countryside has been described as a plague and a growing problem by a councillor.

North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC) said there had been 90 cases of cannabis farm fly-tipping on its rural roads bordering Luton since August 2024.

It said the locations of the fly-tips suggested the waste originated from the town.

Conservative group leader Ralph Muncer said: "We have criminal elements in Luton coming across the border into North Herts."

News imageRalph Muncer A man wearing a pink shirt and a blue quarter zip top looking into the camera. He is clean shaven and has light brown hair. In the background there is a church, trees and houses.Ralph Muncer
Ralph Muncer from North Herts District Council said officers needed "resources to secure successful prosecutions"

Muncer said: "Police need to recognise that this may be a minor crime, but it is linked to drug-dealing in Luton where people are being stabbed.

"It destroys communities and it is imperative we try and counter those criminals who are carrying out this illegal activity."

He added that "the attitude of Bedfordshire Police is dismissive of this problem over the border in North Herts."

In a joint statement from Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Police, the forces said their neighbourhood and community policing teams had carried out joint patrols to target cross-border criminality, which can include fly-tipping and drug supply.

News imageOffice of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire Dumped waste with a large notice on it from North Herts Council which reads in bold red font: "Awareness Notice". It goes on to say "illegal deposit of waste" and "this material has been illegally fly-tipped (dumped)". There then follows details of how you can contact the council.Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner said it was unacceptable that rural communities should be paying the price for organised crime

In January, the Conservative Group on NHDC proposed a motion to increase the fines for fly-tipping to £1,000 compared with the current £400 fine.

The council said no fixed penalty notices at the £1,000 level had been issued to date.

The motion stated it cost councils across Hertfordshire over £1m every year to clean up and investigate illegally dumped waste.

Muncer said that it was "not just a cost to the taxpayer but an awful lot of the cost is being borne by hard-pressed farmers".

News imageOffice of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire A man wearing grey trousers and a short-sleeve shirt standing next to dumped waste in woodland. He has glasses and balding light brown hair. His right hand is in his right pocket and he is facing the camera.Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire
Ash-Edwards said Hertfordshire was the only area where the Police and Crime Commissioner had established a fund to support clean-up costs

Hertfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards said: "Criminal gangs can operate a cannabis farm in one town or city and then simply cross county boundaries to dump the evidence and leave somebody else to deal with the consequences."

He said it was completely unacceptable that farmers and rural communities should be paying the price for organised crime.

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