0:00:00 > 0:00:03Every day, a never-ending war is being waged across Britain
0:00:03 > 0:00:06to clean up our towns and countryside.
0:00:06 > 0:00:11It's where I walk and where I live. I don't want it to look a mess.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15The people who's doing this should definitely be heavily-fined.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19From the tonnes of cigarette butts, dogs' mess and household rubbish
0:00:19 > 0:00:22to tyres and skip-loads of builders' waste...
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Clearing this is a really big job.
0:00:24 > 0:00:29When I see people fly-tipping or littering, throwing a crisp packet on the floor,
0:00:29 > 0:00:32it makes me angry they have so little respect.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35..we're on the front line of the clear up and the fight back
0:00:35 > 0:00:41with dedicated teams tracking down the rogues and putting the "Great" back into Britain.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46It may harm your defence if you fail to mention when questioned...
0:00:46 > 0:00:52On today's programme, a dump of lethal asbestos spells danger
0:00:52 > 0:00:54for our environmental crusaders.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58They've been totally thoughtless. They couldn't care for anybody else.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Nobody wants to get asbestos on their lungs, do they?
0:01:03 > 0:01:07And performing for the cameras. One man's brazen attempt
0:01:07 > 0:01:10to get rid of an entire caravan.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14He dismantled the caravan, piled it up and set fire to it!
0:01:14 > 0:01:19Welcome to the dirty world of Filthy Rotten Scoundrels.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39First, how many instances of fly-tipping do you think there were
0:01:39 > 0:01:43in one year in Middlesbrough? 100?
0:01:43 > 0:01:441,000?
0:01:45 > 0:01:472,000?
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Now, wait for it. There were, in fact,
0:01:50 > 0:01:533,000 instances of fly-tipping.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57And the cost of clearing it all up will make your eyes water.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01225 grand.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03That's the average price of a house in the UK.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06And the locals are up in arms.
0:02:07 > 0:02:12I think it's disgusting. Anybody that leaves that kind of mess
0:02:12 > 0:02:13wants shooting.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Shooting? I think that might be a bit harsh, old chap.
0:02:16 > 0:02:21But it does go to show just how much this kind of thing annoys people.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23Why do we have to look at other people's mess?
0:02:23 > 0:02:28It's a big problem. And now, environmental officers are hot on the heels
0:02:28 > 0:02:31of the scoundrels who are ruining the neighbourhood.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35To ensure they catch the crooks red-handed,
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Middlesbrough Council have provided their officers with cameras
0:02:38 > 0:02:42as a way of gathering evidence in all environmental cases.
0:02:42 > 0:02:47Enforcement Officer Lee Hooker is equipped with a small camera attached to his head.
0:02:47 > 0:02:48Amazing!
0:02:48 > 0:02:51The head camera is of invaluable use to me
0:02:51 > 0:02:54because it records exactly what's at the scene.
0:02:54 > 0:02:59It does mean that in general people can't make untrue accusations
0:02:59 > 0:03:03or mistaken truths. It's a brilliant bit of equipment.
0:03:04 > 0:03:09Middlesbrough Council is known for embracing all sorts of high-tech equipment
0:03:09 > 0:03:12to guarantee they're one step ahead of the criminals.
0:03:12 > 0:03:17They've even installed talking CCTV cameras in the town centre
0:03:17 > 0:03:21that tell people off if they're caught doing something they shouldn't.
0:03:21 > 0:03:26To the young lad, would you mind picking the balloon up that you've just thrown away?
0:03:26 > 0:03:30Now, that's what I call being on top of their game.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34Lee's on his way to investigate his first case of the day.
0:03:35 > 0:03:40A local resident has reported that a builder is dumping all sorts of building materials
0:03:40 > 0:03:43in an alleyway that backs onto their house.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48It's blocking all access to the dustbins so the residents can't throw their rubbish away properly.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52And the bin men can't get in either to clear anything up.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54Sounds right up Lee's street.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57He's on a personal crusade to clear up Middlesbrough,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00a town that's very close to his heart.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02I am proud of what I do
0:04:02 > 0:04:07because I do try to make an improvement for people I come across.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11They more or less want me to help them, so I'm happy to help.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13I'm a local lad, a Teessider,
0:04:13 > 0:04:17so I enjoy the work here.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22Lee puts on his camera and makes his way to the back alley
0:04:22 > 0:04:24where the rubbish is reported to be.
0:04:24 > 0:04:30He started using the head-cam in 2010, after hearing how successfully the police had used them.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39One type of bin. Waste to the side.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Things aren't looking too bad so far.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47But hang on. Take a look round this corner and there we have it.
0:04:47 > 0:04:48The dump.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Right, so what have we got here?
0:04:54 > 0:04:59For starters, a lot of building rubbish. Cardboard, wood trim, polystyrene.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03- A television. - Plastic bags full of rubbish.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06- Dog fouling.- And some dog poo. Thanks for that, Lee!
0:05:06 > 0:05:11The whole thing is absolutely disgusting. Who wants to open their back door onto this?
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Most of the rubbish is outside one house
0:05:18 > 0:05:20which clearly has building work going on.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24Lee knocks on the door. The owner answers, but doesn't want to be on camera.
0:05:24 > 0:05:25Hello, sir.
0:05:25 > 0:05:31I work for Middlesbrough council. Because an offence may have been committed, I'll caution you.
0:05:31 > 0:05:32You don't have to say anything,
0:05:32 > 0:05:37but it may harm your defence if you fail to mention something you later rely on in court.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Lee obviously takes his job very seriously.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Something you do say may be given in evidence.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47The owner calls his builder who is working on another property round the corner.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50While they wait, Lee's camera is rolling.
0:05:52 > 0:05:58Hello. Hiya. My name's Lee Hooker. I work for the Environmental Crime Unit.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03The builder protests that some of the rubbish belongs to local residents and is not his.
0:06:03 > 0:06:08Well, that's because they can't get to their bins, if you don't mind me saying.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10But here's the beauty of Lee's camera.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13While he was waiting for the builder to arrive,
0:06:13 > 0:06:18the homeowner willingly admitted the building waste has come from his house
0:06:18 > 0:06:20and has been put there by his builder.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22Lee has the whole thing on film.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Explain to me in detail why it's here.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28That waste is not ours. The only waste is this one.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Who gave you authority to deposit rubbish here?
0:06:31 > 0:06:36All week, every week, we put separate stuff here and we take it every weekend.
0:06:36 > 0:06:42We take them away. Now, these people have been dumping here. That's not ours. It's household rubbish.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46- Not all of this is mine. - I'll stop you there.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50Instead of clearing up as he goes along, this cheeky builder is leaving his rubbish here
0:06:50 > 0:06:57then at weekends transporting it to a skip outside another of his properties a street away.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59Not good enough.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03- When did this rubbish begin to be deposited?- On the weekend I took it out.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05On Tuesday this pile...
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Lee wants answers, but even he doesn't want this many!
0:07:08 > 0:07:13- At the weekend, I took so much away from here.- It's unacceptable and it's unsightly.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17The bin men couldn't do their job to remove the domestic waste
0:07:17 > 0:07:19because of rubbish from your household.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22It's not ours. That's the problem. I get the blame.
0:07:22 > 0:07:27I don't understand how a householder could come out of their back yard
0:07:27 > 0:07:31and think, "I'm going to pop my refuse sack in the communal bins"
0:07:31 > 0:07:35when there's a load of wood, uPVC, cardboard trim,
0:07:35 > 0:07:39flatboard and household items blocking their way.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42On top of everything, this is now turning into a health hazard.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46The accumulation of household waste can cause all sorts of problems,
0:07:46 > 0:07:49most worryingly vermin.
0:07:49 > 0:07:54Families with children live on this street. Nobody wants rats on their doorstep.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58- How soon can this be cleaned? - I can clean it by tonight.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00- Excellent.- It's no problem.
0:08:00 > 0:08:05So the clean-up's agreed. But will the builder be as good as his word?
0:08:05 > 0:08:09We'll be back with Lee later, when he returns for inspection.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12It's a risk to public health.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21The hills and valleys of the wonderful Welsh countryside.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24It may look perfect now, but once upon a time,
0:08:24 > 0:08:26a very bad man used to live here,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29who had no regard for his beautiful environment.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33For tucked away in this gorgeous green landscape,
0:08:33 > 0:08:39this man ran a filthy, rotten, pollution-spewing oil slick of an illegal scrap yard.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41Piles of tyres,
0:08:41 > 0:08:45mountains of alloy wheels, and cars were stacked up everywhere.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55Then along came knights in shining jackets -
0:08:55 > 0:08:57Environment Agency Wales,
0:08:57 > 0:09:00who made sure this tale had a very happy ending.
0:09:00 > 0:09:05The Environment Agency are more involved now in what we call the big, bad and nasty.
0:09:05 > 0:09:10It involves the higher spectrum of criminality,
0:09:10 > 0:09:13the large-scale illegal disposal of waste.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18The big bad wolf in this case was Dan Power
0:09:18 > 0:09:22who ran his illegal business at his farm in Penllergaer, South Wales.
0:09:22 > 0:09:28Set in the middle of nowhere, his criminal activities went unnoticed until September 2006
0:09:28 > 0:09:32when the Environment Agency got an inkling all was not well.
0:09:33 > 0:09:39One of our officers followed Mr Power carrying scrap vehicles back to his land.
0:09:39 > 0:09:45We knew that the land didn't benefit from any environmental permits
0:09:45 > 0:09:47or exemptions.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49And that's where this story begins.
0:09:49 > 0:09:54Because as soon as the suspicious investigator got close to Power's farm,
0:09:54 > 0:09:58it became blatantly obvious he wasn't rearing sheep.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01The place looked like an environmental disaster
0:10:01 > 0:10:04with car parts strewn all over the place.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Lyn Richards headed up the investigation
0:10:10 > 0:10:12and is back near the scene of the crime
0:10:12 > 0:10:16to tell us how his knight brought down this filthy, rotten dragon.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19As you can see, just over the valley there,
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Dan Power's property is at the top of the hill.
0:10:22 > 0:10:29He was using that to illegally store and treat scrap motor vehicles.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33There are tough regulations to make sure metal scrap yards
0:10:33 > 0:10:37are environmentally friendly and work within the law, like this one.
0:10:37 > 0:10:42Dealers need an environmental permit and to register as waste carriers
0:10:42 > 0:10:44and hazardous waste producers.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48On top of that, their land needs to have a sealed drainage system
0:10:48 > 0:10:52to stop toxic oils from seeping into the ground.
0:10:52 > 0:10:57This all costs money. Funnily enough, our big bad wolf chose to ignore the rules.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00All together, now, "Boo!"
0:11:00 > 0:11:05Mr Power's operations gave no consideration to the environment.
0:11:05 > 0:11:10He was breaking vehicles, there were spillages of oil,
0:11:10 > 0:11:13brake fluid, et cetera, seeping down into the ground.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17So obviously you've got the risk of ground contamination
0:11:17 > 0:11:21and pollution of nearby water courses.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25And because he wasn't doing things by the book,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28because he wasn't having to pay to get everything done properly,
0:11:28 > 0:11:33Dan Power was raking in hundreds of thousands of pounds in illegal profits.
0:11:33 > 0:11:39Dan Power would make his money by collecting cars for as little as £10.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42When he brought scrap cars back, he'd break them up.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45He'd take the oil, the engines out,
0:11:45 > 0:11:48the catalytic converters.
0:11:48 > 0:11:53He'd also strip the tyres, the alloy wheels, et cetera, to sell separately.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57He'd then store the shells up to two, three cars deep.
0:11:57 > 0:12:02He'd then take them to a scrap metal dealer to get the scrap value from those vehicles.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05OK. Let's do the maths.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09The going rate for scrap metal is about £60 a tonne,
0:12:09 > 0:12:12which is about the weight of your average car.
0:12:12 > 0:12:17So if Power was buying cars for a tenner and selling them for scrap for £60,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20he stood to make 50 quid on each vehicle.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24That means he could have been making a staggering 500% profit.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Unbelievable.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28And, by failing to abide by the law,
0:12:28 > 0:12:34Power avoided paying more than 36 grand in set-up costs alone.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36This conniving villain was making a mint.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40By Mr Power operating the way he did,
0:12:40 > 0:12:44without having to invest in the various infrastructures
0:12:44 > 0:12:47that would allow him to operate legally,
0:12:47 > 0:12:53he saved a significant amount of money which allowed him to undercut legitimate operators.
0:12:53 > 0:12:58People like Tim Swain, who runs a legitimate scrap yard
0:12:58 > 0:13:01and has had his fill of rogues like Dan Power.
0:13:01 > 0:13:08If somebody is working without permits and without licences,
0:13:08 > 0:13:13it means they don't have to pay a lot of money.
0:13:13 > 0:13:19They don't have to pay anything to the Environmental. We have to pay a big sum of money
0:13:19 > 0:13:21for the licence for us to operate.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25So it means they're having more money than we are out of it.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29Times have changed, and the good guys like Tim
0:13:29 > 0:13:33have spent time and money bringing yards like this up to scratch.
0:13:33 > 0:13:3740 years ago, when we had this yard,
0:13:37 > 0:13:40there was no concrete, nothing.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42And the oil went in the ground.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49That has changed dramatically over the last 20 years.
0:13:51 > 0:13:56As soon as the Environment Agency Wales worked out exactly what Dan Power was up to,
0:13:56 > 0:13:58they issued a warning notice
0:13:58 > 0:14:01asking him to clean up his act and work within the law.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03But Power was having none of it.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06More letters were sent and ignored.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09So by January 2007,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12the Enviro-knights decided enough was enough.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14They mustered all their forces
0:14:14 > 0:14:18to bring down that filthy rotten scoundrel.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22The surveillance we undertook was from this location.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26As you can see, it was quite a long-range surveillance operation.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28There was no risk to our officers
0:14:28 > 0:14:32and little chance of compromise from Mr Power himself.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36And the surveillance makes for some pretty grim viewing.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Captured on a long-lens camera,
0:14:39 > 0:14:42you can see Dan Power had the full set-up.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Recovery vehicles to bring in the cars.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47Fork-lift trucks to shift them around.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50And a trusty side-kick to do all the hard graft.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54It's like watching a vulture stripping a carcass,
0:14:54 > 0:14:58from stripping cars down to the bone for the scrap metal
0:14:58 > 0:15:00to whipping off hub-caps and wheels.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02Everything has got a value.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06But just look at the state of the place.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10You'd definitely need a magic wand to transform it back to how it once was.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13It's plain criminal.
0:15:14 > 0:15:19The Environment Agency was building a strong case against Power and he was none the wiser.
0:15:19 > 0:15:25Even when they took to their motor and followed the selfish rogue in his recovery truck,
0:15:25 > 0:15:27he didn't have a clue.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31Coo-ee! Here we are! No, still not registering.
0:15:32 > 0:15:37Now, I'm no expert, but those stacked cars don't look very safe to me.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40It's no surprise the investigators kept their distance.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42What a mess!
0:15:44 > 0:15:47For three months, the Environment Agency secretly trailed Power
0:15:47 > 0:15:52and finally, in March 2007, with enough evidence behind them,
0:15:52 > 0:15:53they raided his farm.
0:15:57 > 0:16:02For the first time, the investigators weren't relying on a telescopic lens.
0:16:02 > 0:16:08They could see close up what this rotten rogue had done to the beautiful Welsh countryside.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10And it was heartbreaking.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14Power had successfully transformed his farm
0:16:14 > 0:16:17into a monstrously filthy rubbish tip.
0:16:21 > 0:16:28On August 11, 2008, 29-year-old Daniel Power pleaded guilty
0:16:28 > 0:16:30to keeping and treating illegal waste on his farm
0:16:30 > 0:16:34and was sentenced to 180 hours community service.
0:16:34 > 0:16:40Now, you might not think that's much of a penalty for this heinous environmental crime.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42But for Power, worse was to come
0:16:42 > 0:16:45thanks to a clever piece of legislation,
0:16:45 > 0:16:47the Proceeds of Crime Act.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51Basically, it allows us to take the profit out of crime.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54So if anybody has made a significant amount of money
0:16:54 > 0:16:57by operating illegally like Dan Power did,
0:16:57 > 0:17:01the courts will now allow us to be able to recoup that money.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05And boy, oh boy, did he have some money to pay back!
0:17:05 > 0:17:13These investigations established that Power had made approximately £360,000 from his illegal activity.
0:17:13 > 0:17:18From that, further investigations also established
0:17:18 > 0:17:23that Power had approximately £188,000-worth of realisable assets.
0:17:23 > 0:17:28For example, land that he owned, vehicles that he owned.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30He even owned a lordship!
0:17:30 > 0:17:32Hang on a second - he even owned what?
0:17:33 > 0:17:35He even owned a lordship.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37Knock me down with a feather!
0:17:37 > 0:17:39This man had a hoity-toity title!
0:17:40 > 0:17:47He had a Lordship of Goldington title, valued at just under £4,500,
0:17:47 > 0:17:49that he had to sell.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52Lord Goldington? Lord Muck, more like!
0:17:52 > 0:17:58All of these materials he could sell to pay back some of the money he'd made through criminal activity.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03And the biggest asset he had to flog must have really hurt.
0:18:03 > 0:18:04Finally,
0:18:04 > 0:18:11Dan Power's land, that we can see there, that's been in his family for a number of years,
0:18:11 > 0:18:16he's had to sell. He's sold that recently for £142,000.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20The Environment Agency Wales got their fairytale ending
0:18:20 > 0:18:23and Power lost absolutely everything.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27The message we're trying to get out to environmental criminals
0:18:27 > 0:18:30is that crime doesn't pay.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34All the money that the criminal has gleaned through his illegal activity
0:18:34 > 0:18:36we can now confiscate,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39whether that be their house, their vehicles,
0:18:39 > 0:18:44their yacht, and, in Mr Dan Power's case, his lordship!
0:18:44 > 0:18:48If you think you can cheat the system and ignore the rules,
0:18:48 > 0:18:52think again! The good guys will track you down and make you pay.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55Then everyone can live happily ever after!
0:18:57 > 0:19:01From the Welsh valleys to the cutting edge of technology now.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05We're back in Middlesbrough with Lee Hooker and his trusty head-cam.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09He's been called in to sort out an alleyway at the back of some houses
0:19:09 > 0:19:12where a builder's waste turned it into a rubbish tip.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15As far as I'm concerned, it's unacceptable and unsightly.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19The builder's agreed to shift this lot straight away.
0:19:19 > 0:19:25His lads have arrived to move all the rubbish into a van and drive it to a skip up the road.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28But hold your horses, lads. Lee's got his rule book out.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34- Have you got a waste carrier's licence?- Pardon? - A waste carrier's licence.
0:19:34 > 0:19:35No.
0:19:35 > 0:19:40The builder can't produce the right paperwork to transport this rubbish in his van.
0:19:40 > 0:19:45- Take the rubbish out of there and move it to the skip. - That's where we're going.
0:19:45 > 0:19:50He is allowed to drive it over if he can convince Lee
0:19:50 > 0:19:54that it's lovely new building materials and not rubbish.
0:19:54 > 0:19:59- That's a plastic back board. - It's rubbish. It's waste. - From next door.
0:19:59 > 0:20:05- OK, you've taken it. You've taken it.- I'm taking it to the skip. - By foot.
0:20:05 > 0:20:10Ten out of ten for trying, pal, but it's Shanks's pony for you, me old mucker!
0:20:13 > 0:20:16He's got a long way to walk with all that rubbish!
0:20:16 > 0:20:20A waste carrier's licence costs around £150
0:20:20 > 0:20:24but without it, the waste must be taken to the skip by foot.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28So every last bit of wood trim, polystyrene, plastic, cardboard,
0:20:28 > 0:20:32but not the dog poo, has to be carried around to the skip.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36It's going to be back-breaking work. Rather them than me!
0:20:36 > 0:20:42- The lads are bringing it round on foot now.- It's not like it's dangerous waste or anything.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44No, you can bring it round on foot.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46That's brilliant.
0:20:49 > 0:20:54It's the next day, and Lee's keen to see the mammoth clean-up operation.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58We're going to go back to the alleyway now
0:20:58 > 0:21:02and just check that he's removed the waste
0:21:02 > 0:21:04and everything's tickety-boo.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07It's not fair on the residents
0:21:07 > 0:21:09because the residents who share that alleyway
0:21:09 > 0:21:13might have children who want to go into the alleyway.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16Want to kick a ball about. I can only take him by his word.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18He said he's going to move it.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25Lee's hoping the alleyway is going to be spick and span.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Alleyway locked. Open now.
0:21:32 > 0:21:37Wow! That is some transformation. I could eat my dinner off of that!
0:21:37 > 0:21:40What a difference doing a job properly makes.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43The builder has stuck to his word,
0:21:43 > 0:21:45clearing the unsightly mess.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49It's a great result, so Lee decides not to take things further this time.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53The man whose house was being renovated is in the clear, too.
0:21:53 > 0:21:58Lee's checked out the builder and found he usually operates with all the right permits.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Unfortunately, this time he slipped up.
0:22:01 > 0:22:06It's a lesson learned, and hats off to him as he's done a sterling job clearing up.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11Coming up: Lee's on the trail of a sinister crime.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15ID fraudsters who've been going through bin bags
0:22:15 > 0:22:17stealing personal information.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21If there's a bag-slasher back, we need to nip it in the bud early.
0:22:27 > 0:22:33Every year, Doncaster Council deals with hundreds of tonnes of hazardous dumped asbestos.
0:22:33 > 0:22:40You shift that without the proper kit on, it's a massive danger to your health.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43What was once considered to be a wonder material,
0:22:43 > 0:22:46we now know can be deadly and it must be disposed of with great care.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48Not an easy job.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51I don't think for a minute it'll be cheap.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55Some unscrupulous people are playing a dangerous DIY game
0:22:55 > 0:23:00by taking a sledge-hammer to buildings like garden sheds or garages
0:23:00 > 0:23:02and just fly-tipping the toxic waste!
0:23:02 > 0:23:07Environmental Enforcement Officer Bob Allen is under no illusions about their motives.
0:23:07 > 0:23:12People are fly-tipping this waste because, in my view, it makes them money.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15They can either make money or they save money.
0:23:15 > 0:23:20If they're doing a job themselves, maybe taking an old building down,
0:23:20 > 0:23:23found out it's expensive to get rid of asbestos properly,
0:23:23 > 0:23:26so if they fly-tip it, they're saving money.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28Or it might be the guy with the van, the pick-up,
0:23:28 > 0:23:32notices somebody's got an old garage that wants to come down,
0:23:32 > 0:23:37"If you give me 40 quid, I'll get rid of that asbestos for you."
0:23:38 > 0:23:41And it's us who foot the clear-up bill.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45For Doncaster Council, it's become an expensive headache.
0:23:45 > 0:23:51In the last six months, I think we've had something like 44 individual fly-tipped asbestos jobs.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58We've removed something like 14 tonnes of asbestos.
0:24:00 > 0:24:05It's cost the council around £9,000.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09So we're spending a fair bit of money on the problem.
0:24:09 > 0:24:14If Bob includes the time the council spend on this, the cost is far more.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17Unfortunately for him, a new dump has just been reported.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22What we're dealing with today is broken-up asbestos.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26Once it's broken up, that's when the fibres are released
0:24:26 > 0:24:28and where you can breathe them into your lungs.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33At the tip location, the clean-up is underway. The team are taking no risks.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37They're in full safety kit, including breathing apparatus.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39- All right, guys?- Hi, Bob.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41What have we got, then?
0:24:55 > 0:24:58We'll try and separate as much asbestos as we can, yeah?
0:24:58 > 0:25:03- Yeah.- Excellent. Crack on. I'll stand well back from you!
0:25:03 > 0:25:06- Do you want me to put that sign somewhere?- Yes, please.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10If the fibres from broken asbestos are inhaled, they can fatally damage the lungs.
0:25:10 > 0:25:15Asbestos-related diseases kill over 4,000 people each year.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17So Bob's observing from a safe distance.
0:25:17 > 0:25:22Prior to them disturbing anything, they spray a fibre suppressant
0:25:22 > 0:25:24which keeps the fibres down.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28It minimises the risk of somebody breathing in the fibres.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32What the guys are doing, you can see they're picking it out by hand.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35They're trying to separate the asbestos from the other waste.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38We'll pay for asbestos disposal by the weight.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41So if we send all that, the whole job lot,
0:25:41 > 0:25:45as asbestos waste, mixed hazardous waste,
0:25:45 > 0:25:47then it will be a hefty payment.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50All this for one domestic garage.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52And there's even more protocol to follow.
0:25:52 > 0:25:59Strict hygiene rules are applied. When dealing with this, there's no smoking, no drinking, no eating
0:25:59 > 0:26:01while you're on site.
0:26:01 > 0:26:06When you're finished, the disposable equipment, the suits you see here,
0:26:06 > 0:26:10is all put in the disposable bags and got rid of in the same way as the asbestos.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22And like so much of the waste we create,
0:26:22 > 0:26:25there's no easy way to get rid of asbestos.
0:26:25 > 0:26:30Currently, the disposal solution is just to bury it far beneath the ground.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36This toxic dump is also a problem for the locals
0:26:36 > 0:26:39who enjoy using the country lanes.
0:26:39 > 0:26:40Morning, sir. How are you?
0:26:40 > 0:26:46- Bob Allen, Doncaster Council. We're shifting some asbestos off here.- What?
0:26:46 > 0:26:51Somebody's fly-tipped some asbestos in breeze blocks. We're removing it.
0:26:51 > 0:26:57To human beings, and to the dogs, it's a major concern.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01Nobody wants to get asbestos on their lungs, do they?
0:27:03 > 0:27:05They're making easy money.
0:27:05 > 0:27:13But to me, obviously, I'm a rate payer and we have to fork out to have it removed.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16And it's not just dog walkers who use this lane.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20Chillingly, it's a popular place for kids to hang out.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23The biggest problem we've got is kids.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27Children. If they find waste, they don't always see the dangers.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29They don't know what asbestos is.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32So if it was in full sheets - here, it isn't -
0:27:32 > 0:27:36but if it was in full sheets and they move the sheets about,
0:27:36 > 0:27:40using it for a den, a gang hole, the dangers are there.
0:27:40 > 0:27:47If you've got somebody at your door who says, "I'll take your asbestos garage away for you for 40 quid",
0:27:47 > 0:27:50you've got to think what you're doing.
0:27:50 > 0:27:55You said it. If environmental officers link an asbestos tip to your address,
0:27:55 > 0:27:57even if you didn't do the dumping,
0:27:57 > 0:28:00you could be liable. It's a lesson to us all.
0:28:00 > 0:28:05Before offloading this hazardous waste onto any man with a van,
0:28:05 > 0:28:08check their licence and get a proper receipt for the work.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14Our priority is to try and stop this. Not carry on removing it.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16We want to stop it. To prevent it.
0:28:16 > 0:28:21Bob's mission is to take these kinds of hazardous dumpers to court,
0:28:21 > 0:28:25where they could face up to five years in prison and an unlimited fine.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30It may be an ongoing battle, but it's one Bob is determined to win.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32The deterrent is there,
0:28:32 > 0:28:36but it doesn't stop everybody because they're making money out of this.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40But we will carry on, we will try and prosecute where possible.
0:28:40 > 0:28:46Coming up: Brace yourself. I'm going to introduce you to the neighbour from hell!
0:28:46 > 0:28:51Even though he's aware the camera's there, he continues blatantly
0:28:51 > 0:28:53to just burn it.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04Earlier, we met Lee Hooker, our crusading Enforcement Officer
0:29:04 > 0:29:07on a one-man mission to clean up the streets of Middlesbrough.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10Who gave you authority to deposit rubbish here?
0:29:10 > 0:29:14I am proud of what I do because I try to make an improvement.
0:29:14 > 0:29:18Local lad Lee loves keeping his manor clean.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20The community are right behind him.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22It's a risk to public health.
0:29:22 > 0:29:28- I'm sure it is. It's going to introduce rodents into the area. - I agree.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30- I'll leave it with you.- Thanks.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35Next call for our filth-fighting crusader is a block of flats
0:29:35 > 0:29:40where a growing pile of rubbish is getting up the nose of the locals.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42Disgusted. Absolutely disgusted.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44Especially when you see nappies
0:29:44 > 0:29:50and you think that's a mother or a parent allowing that to happen.
0:29:50 > 0:29:55If they're doing that, what message are they sending to their children?
0:29:56 > 0:30:00Lee puts his trusty head camera on and gets ready to investigate.
0:30:00 > 0:30:05Waste deposited next to the bins. A carpet,
0:30:05 > 0:30:09deposited rubbish outside of the bins.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11Mattress times one.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13A sofa.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16Most of the flats aren't owner-occupied, and some locals
0:30:16 > 0:30:20think this could be at the heart of the problem.
0:30:20 > 0:30:25I think that people that are in rented accommodation, they - not all, not all -
0:30:25 > 0:30:29but a lot of them probably don't have the pride in their home
0:30:29 > 0:30:31as maybe a homeowner
0:30:31 > 0:30:34because they're going to move on and probably just don't think
0:30:34 > 0:30:37the impact it has on other people.
0:30:37 > 0:30:42It's very sad. It upsets me. But it's widespread. It's everywhere.
0:30:42 > 0:30:47This type of rubbish is very unsightly. Not nice for the residents at all.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50Televisions, sometimes computer stuff.
0:30:50 > 0:30:51Clothes.
0:30:51 > 0:30:53Pants!
0:30:53 > 0:30:57Pants?! Let's hope not. Lee might be used to picking through rubbish,
0:30:57 > 0:31:01but even a superhero round these parts should only handle their own smalls!
0:31:01 > 0:31:04And wear them inside their trousers!
0:31:04 > 0:31:08It's fairly gross, but it's not life-threatening! It's just rubbish.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11What a man! Go on, Lee! Get stuck in!
0:31:11 > 0:31:13Bin.
0:31:13 > 0:31:18To the benefit of the head camera, large amount of plastic coffee cups.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21Whoever's making all this mess, I doubt they're getting a lot of sleep
0:31:21 > 0:31:24judging by the amount of coffee they're drinking!
0:31:24 > 0:31:32Possible commercial use. No particular identity on the cups except all of the same genre.
0:31:33 > 0:31:38Can you send them an email to telephone me, please, Anya.
0:31:38 > 0:31:43Our daring king of debris gets on the case to find out who owns the flats.
0:31:43 > 0:31:47I'll get something done about the rubbish and get them to move it.
0:31:47 > 0:31:53That should do the trick. If the landlords know what's going on, they can warn tenants to shape up
0:31:53 > 0:31:55or ship out.
0:31:55 > 0:32:00Hopefully, people will think about dumping stuff on the floor. Who knows?
0:32:03 > 0:32:05Never one to rest on his laurels,
0:32:05 > 0:32:10Lee's straight on to the next call about a very 21st-century crime!
0:32:10 > 0:32:16We're going to an area of properties that put refuse sacks out for collection.
0:32:16 > 0:32:21What happened last week is that a bag-slasher had gone through
0:32:21 > 0:32:24looking for possible identification.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27What I'll do now is a bit of door-knocking
0:32:27 > 0:32:33and give them some warning that there's undesirables in the area.
0:32:34 > 0:32:38Bag-slashing is part of the nasty trend of identity theft.
0:32:38 > 0:32:45These refuse rascals sift through your rubbish for any paperwork that can get them access to your money.
0:32:45 > 0:32:47It can be tricky to catch these scoundrels
0:32:47 > 0:32:50but when they are nabbed, they can be fined up to £500.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52It's just rubbish.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56Sometimes get flies and maggots in it, but it's no big deal.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58You can't complain if you've got work.
0:32:58 > 0:33:03Lee's making sure there's no rubbish here to identify people and put them at risk.
0:33:03 > 0:33:08If there's a bag-slasher back, we need to nip it in the bud early
0:33:08 > 0:33:12and get people to put their rubbish out at the correct time.
0:33:12 > 0:33:17It's a crime Lee's seen before. He thinks the only real way to protect people
0:33:17 > 0:33:20is to get them to shred any sensitive paperwork, put it in the bin
0:33:20 > 0:33:25and put their rubbish out just before the dustcart does its rounds.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36If only he could find somebody to tell!
0:33:36 > 0:33:39- 'Who is it?'- It's the council!
0:33:39 > 0:33:44- I'm Lee, from the council. Do you know when your bin day is? - Tomorrow morning.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47- It's regarding...- Fly tipping.
0:33:47 > 0:33:52- No, it's people putting bags out, at the back...- Mine are in the yard. - ..for collection.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56I'm advising you because last week, somebody slashed the bags.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59Someone in the flats saw them actually slash the bags.
0:33:59 > 0:34:04- And walk away with... - I've spoken to that lady.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08- Your rubbish bags, what day do you put them out?- About six o'clock.
0:34:08 > 0:34:12- Do you put them out before you go out?- We'll put them out tonight.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14Put them out last thing at night.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18- Do you know when your collection is? - Fridays.- When will you put it out?
0:34:18 > 0:34:22- Tonight.- Could you put it out in the morning, before they come?
0:34:22 > 0:34:26- We put it out at 11 o'clock at night.- That's not too bad.
0:34:26 > 0:34:32- Not at seven o'clock. It's usually just before we go to bed. 11 to half past.- Right-o.
0:34:32 > 0:34:34Excellent. Cheerio!
0:34:36 > 0:34:38But before Lee heads home,
0:34:38 > 0:34:41he's got a whiff of something really dodgy in the air.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44Can you believe it?
0:34:44 > 0:34:47Someone's left a whole bag of dog poo on the pavement.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50Whoever's responsible for this pongy pile,
0:34:50 > 0:34:54deserves more than a night in the dog house! Yuk!
0:34:54 > 0:34:58This type of waste, a big bag of dog poo, I don't want to leave it on the street.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02Because if anybody touches it, especially young kids and stuff...
0:35:02 > 0:35:06It's a health risk. I'll phone up our area care lads.
0:35:06 > 0:35:07They'll come round and get it.
0:35:07 > 0:35:11Our man Lee knows that leaving dog-do on the street
0:35:11 > 0:35:15is a big dog-do! It's a health and safety nightmare.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17The area care lads have come to pick it up now.
0:35:17 > 0:35:24They'll cleanse that. The remaining bags get collected tomorrow on the normal bin day.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28We'll check there's no personal details in there to cause a problem.
0:35:28 > 0:35:33We've a description of the bag slasher which we'll follow up. It's being investigated.
0:35:33 > 0:35:37Job well done. It's the end of another busy day for Lee.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41Our clean-up crusader takes his trusty camera off and heads home
0:35:41 > 0:35:43for some much-needed rest.
0:35:46 > 0:35:51But the fight against environmental crime in Middlesbrough never stops.
0:35:51 > 0:35:55Across town, investigators can celebrate a job well done
0:35:55 > 0:35:59after getting one over on one particularly nasty scoundrel.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02In its industrial heyday,
0:36:02 > 0:36:06this town was covered in black, soot-filled skies. But no more.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10Middlesbrough has been revived, refreshed and rejuvenated.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14Though not every citizen is taking pride in their city's new look.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17Just take a butcher's at this!
0:36:17 > 0:36:24This bare-faced scoundrel gave a whole new meaning to the phrase "trailer trash"
0:36:24 > 0:36:29when he was caught on CCTV ripping apart a caravan piece by piece
0:36:29 > 0:36:34in broad daylight. And the fella conveniently forgot to hire a skip
0:36:34 > 0:36:35to take the debris away.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38Just imagine living next door to that.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43Cue Middlesbrough council's secret weapon.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46Environment Improvement Officer Phil Armitage,
0:36:46 > 0:36:50the man who stopped this neighbour from hell once and for all.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53And this is why Phil had to be called in.
0:36:53 > 0:36:58Chunks of concrete, strips of tarpaulin, remains of a bed frame,
0:36:58 > 0:37:01bits of fencing, chucked all over the place.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06As you can see here, materials discarded in the property.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10I've seen these items on the fence at one point
0:37:10 > 0:37:13now they're broken up and abandoned here.
0:37:13 > 0:37:18Same with the contents of the house. Just dumped. Obviously he's been evicted,
0:37:18 > 0:37:21but he's made no attempt to clean up the house.
0:37:21 > 0:37:26Now that's what I call antisocial misbehaviour!
0:37:31 > 0:37:34This is the man responsible for this awful mess.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36And this mess isn't even his worst crime.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41Not only did he smash his caravan apart,
0:37:41 > 0:37:46he waited until it was dark to carry the pieces onto a strip of council land
0:37:46 > 0:37:47just next to his house.
0:37:47 > 0:37:52Shockingly, he went one unbelievable step further.
0:37:52 > 0:37:53He put a match to it!
0:37:59 > 0:38:02Filthy scoundrels like this need to be stopped.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06It was up to Phil to collect evidence of the rubbish tips and damage
0:38:06 > 0:38:08to build a case and prosecute this man.
0:38:12 > 0:38:14Let's see the scene of the crime.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20This is the driveway where he stored the caravan.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24He had to take the fencing out to get it in here, I believe.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27Most of the fencing went on the fire at some point.
0:38:27 > 0:38:33Obviously at this point he just dismantled the caravan, piled it up
0:38:33 > 0:38:36and used an accelerant to set fire to it.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41Despite the camera being virtually on his doorstep,
0:38:41 > 0:38:45he just continued to conduct these activities.
0:38:46 > 0:38:50In fact, this man was caught twice on CCTV.
0:38:50 > 0:38:54In August and September 2010, burning the rubbish.
0:38:55 > 0:38:59When Phil reviewed the footage at Middlesbrough council HQ,
0:38:59 > 0:39:01he was astounded by what he saw.
0:39:01 > 0:39:05Even though he's aware that the camera's there,
0:39:05 > 0:39:09he just continues blatantly around one o'clock in the morning
0:39:09 > 0:39:14to set fire to parts of the caravan and just burn it.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16Burn it?
0:39:16 > 0:39:21You can see him putting plastic items on, wooden items, laminates.
0:39:21 > 0:39:26Some of those type of products contain carcinogenic material.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29Obviously it produces a lot of thick black smoke.
0:39:30 > 0:39:32That's dangerous toxic fumes.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35Had this scoundrel no common sense?
0:39:36 > 0:39:39He also cost his fellow citizens a pretty penny
0:39:39 > 0:39:41because the council had to clean up his mess.
0:39:43 > 0:39:47With nearly 60 fly tips springing up every week in Middlesbrough,
0:39:47 > 0:39:50clear-up costs are setting the council back
0:39:50 > 0:39:53a whopping quarter of a million pounds a year.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56That's money that could be much better spent elsewhere.
0:39:56 > 0:40:01But it's not just the cost. Spare a thought for the poor people living next door
0:40:01 > 0:40:06to the fiend while he was torching his caravan in the early hours of the morning.
0:40:06 > 0:40:10The last thing they want is foul and maybe toxic smoke
0:40:10 > 0:40:13coming in to their properties on a night.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17Then you've got fire engines coming out to put out the fires, you wake people up.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20Blue lights flashing everywhere.
0:40:20 > 0:40:25So in general, it's a very anti-social thing to do.
0:40:25 > 0:40:26And it's against the law.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32But this fire-starter wasn't just content with burning his own trash.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35After giving, literally, an Oscar-winning performance
0:40:35 > 0:40:37for the CCTV operators,
0:40:37 > 0:40:41he became - how can I put this? - a little camera shy.
0:40:41 > 0:40:44And he tried to burn down the spy-cam!
0:40:45 > 0:40:47You can see from the camera here.
0:40:47 > 0:40:52There is evidence of fire damage. It's right outside his house.
0:40:52 > 0:40:56The reason this camera was installed was to try and prevent that damage.
0:40:56 > 0:41:00The flames must have been ten feet.
0:41:00 > 0:41:05The councils have learned from this and they put them on five-metre poles and higher.
0:41:05 > 0:41:12As high as they can get them so they can't be tampered with or damaged. Preserve the footage.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17While Big Brother saw everything this rotten scoundrel was up to,
0:41:17 > 0:41:19he knew full well he was in the wrong.
0:41:19 > 0:41:24And the coward legged it as soon as the fire brigade turned up.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28But there was absolutely no excuse
0:41:28 > 0:41:31for his dangerous and anti-social behaviour.
0:41:33 > 0:41:39The easiest thing for this individual was to take the whole caravan into a scrap yard.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42They would have taken it off his hands and broken it up.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46Or he could have broken it up himself, put it into small amounts
0:41:46 > 0:41:49and the council may have collected it as excess waste.
0:41:49 > 0:41:52While this joker took the easy way out,
0:41:52 > 0:41:56his arrogance in performing in front of the camera
0:41:56 > 0:41:59meant Phil had an easier job of it too.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02From our point of view, it's been a good case
0:42:02 > 0:42:05because he just doesn't care. He does everything so blatantly.
0:42:05 > 0:42:10He would know, he suspects he's being watched when he starts these activities,
0:42:10 > 0:42:12but he carries on regardless!
0:42:12 > 0:42:18It was incredible. Phil had irrefutable evidence of this man tearing his caravan apart
0:42:18 > 0:42:21and then burning its remains on council land.
0:42:21 > 0:42:28On June 28, 2011, he appeared before magistrates charged with fly-tipping and illegally burning waste.
0:42:28 > 0:42:33He pleaded guilty to the charges. Bang to rights.
0:42:35 > 0:42:39Every week of the year, dedicated teams are working hard
0:42:39 > 0:42:41across our villages, towns and cities
0:42:41 > 0:42:44determined to clean up the streets of Britain.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48Join us next time when we'll be chasing down more filthy rotten scoundrels!
0:43:09 > 0:43:12Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd