0:00:01 > 0:00:05Every day, a never-ending war is being waged across Britain
0:00:05 > 0:00:07to clean up our towns and countryside.
0:00:07 > 0:00:12It's a massive problem. We all have to live with the mess other people make.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15A hefty fine would certainly make them think again.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17I want to live in a nice, clean environment.
0:00:17 > 0:00:22But people throw rubbish around. They don't care and don't respect where they live.
0:00:22 > 0:00:27From the tonnes of cigarette butts, dogs' mess and household rubbish,
0:00:27 > 0:00:30to mountains of tyres and skiploads of builders' waste.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33It's a constant battle. A constant battle. It's a war.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37It's a war to stop this fly-tipping happening.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39We're on the front line of the clear-up
0:00:39 > 0:00:42and the fight back
0:00:42 > 0:00:48with our dedicated teams tracking down the rogues and putting the "great" back into Britain.
0:00:48 > 0:00:53It may harm your defence if you fail to mention when questioned something you rely on in court.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55On today's programme,
0:00:55 > 0:00:59we're behind the scenes of an incredible investigation by the Environment Agency
0:00:59 > 0:01:04including undercover surveillance, a night-time mission and a tense raid.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09A lot of adrenaline. A lot of stress.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13Fly-tipping on an unbelievable scale.
0:01:13 > 0:01:18This lot included a boat, and not just one, but two aeroplanes!
0:01:18 > 0:01:25This is where we should have the sheep, the cattle, and not all this rubbish being accumulated.
0:01:25 > 0:01:30And the family business that took action after finding this lot on their doorstep.
0:01:30 > 0:01:35The moment we opened them, they were full of dog muck. The smell was revolting.
0:01:35 > 0:01:36What can you say?
0:01:36 > 0:01:41Welcome to the dirty, dirty world of Filthy Rotten Scoundrels.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01Now, let's face it. Most of us have got a car.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03They're part of our everyday lives.
0:02:03 > 0:02:08But how many of us think about what happens to them once their big end goes?
0:02:08 > 0:02:12Well, the scrap industry is big business and a complicated business.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16Every step of the process has to be done properly.
0:02:16 > 0:02:21There are strict rules and regulations and you need environmental permits and licences.
0:02:21 > 0:02:26That is unless you're a recycling rogue who just wants cash to burn.
0:02:35 > 0:02:40Today, we're going behind the scenes with the guys whose job it is to catch the rogues.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44It's an incredible story following every step of the investigation
0:02:44 > 0:02:47including camouflage gear...
0:02:47 > 0:02:50We have to go in covertly, normally one in the morning.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53..secret night-time missions...
0:02:53 > 0:02:55I'm installing one of the cameras.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59It's key I don't get anything wrong and then we have the footage we need.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01..heavy disguise...
0:03:01 > 0:03:04I'm going to dress up as a fisherman, walker.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08..and culminating in a full-blown raid.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13You don't have to say anything, but anything you don't mention... you cannot rely on in court.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18The purpose of this operation is to hit the big, the bad and the ugly.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22And this site is and does fall into that category.
0:03:24 > 0:03:30Meet Michael Griffiths, a rooting-tooting sheriff from the Environment Agency
0:03:30 > 0:03:32who has some polluting pests in his sight.
0:03:32 > 0:03:39This operation is one we started as a result of a large number of complaints
0:03:39 > 0:03:42that thick, black fires are taking place.
0:03:42 > 0:03:47The evidence from the fire brigade who have attended a large number of these fires
0:03:47 > 0:03:51is that the fires are up to 20 metres square at the base.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Which is a massive fire!
0:03:53 > 0:03:58Michael's involved because he suspects it's waste that's being burned,
0:03:58 > 0:04:01specifically from old cars and lorries once stripped for scrap.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05We believe that the remains are either burned
0:04:05 > 0:04:08or left to wallow in the ground.
0:04:08 > 0:04:13All the pollutants, all the petrol, all the oils, water coolants,
0:04:13 > 0:04:15just dismissed.
0:04:15 > 0:04:20Each of those offences carries an unlimited fine by the courts
0:04:20 > 0:04:25and a maximum five-years imprisonment on each charge.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28So we're not talking minor offences here.
0:04:28 > 0:04:33The aim of this investigation is to painstakingly gather evidence over time
0:04:33 > 0:04:36to try and prove the offences.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38Time to bring out the secret cameras.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41This gives us the opportunity to gather evidence.
0:04:41 > 0:04:46Who's visiting the site? What sort of vehicles are going there?
0:04:46 > 0:04:50What sort of vehicles are leaving the site? How many are being left
0:04:50 > 0:04:52and what's happening to those vehicles?
0:04:52 > 0:04:55Michael has an Aladdin's Cave of gadgets and gizmos
0:04:55 > 0:05:00which he hopes will get him enough evidence of what's going on on this site.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04But even getting them into place requires an incredible undercover operation.
0:05:04 > 0:05:09We have to go in covertly. It's normally one o'clock in the morning.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13We have to be very, very careful. This is a risky site. High risk.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16So what we use is the army camo gear.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Now can you see how serious this is?
0:05:20 > 0:05:26The Environment Officers have to visit the site in the dead of night, wearing camouflage gear.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29All just to set up some evidence-gathering cameras.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31It's a military-style operation.
0:05:31 > 0:05:36It's D-Day. Well, D-Night, in this case,
0:05:36 > 0:05:38as Mike and his team prepare to fix two cameras,
0:05:38 > 0:05:40one at each end of the site.
0:05:40 > 0:05:45The dangers for my team tonight are getting caught.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48Getting compromised in-situ.
0:05:48 > 0:05:53It's going to be one o'clock, two o'clock in the morning.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55There's also the serious case of dogs.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59We know there are three large Rottweilers loose on site
0:05:59 > 0:06:02and we'll be very close to those dogs.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06Rottweilers? Middle of the night? This isn't a job for the faint-hearted.
0:06:06 > 0:06:11And like any good military operation, Michael briefs the team on what to do.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Probably they'll synchronise watches!
0:06:15 > 0:06:18We're putting the two cameras in, one east, one west.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22Team One, the Whisky car, you'll put the east one in.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27We'll leave you to sort out your communications.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29My car, the Victor car,
0:06:29 > 0:06:34drop us off at the top and we'll go into the west-hand side
0:06:34 > 0:06:39and put the camera in there. Good luck. Let's go get 'em!
0:06:39 > 0:06:43This is where the adrenaline really kicks in.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45I'll be installing one of the cameras.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47I've done a few of these,
0:06:47 > 0:06:51so I've got all the camera and wires and everything,
0:06:51 > 0:06:53to make sure it all connects up.
0:06:53 > 0:06:58We've got the killer angle so we can see people's faces and registration numbers.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01So it's key that I don't get anything wrong
0:07:01 > 0:07:04and that we get the footage we need to win the case.
0:07:04 > 0:07:09It's wagons roll, as the team disappear into the night.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16When they get to the location, they prepare to jump from a moving car.
0:07:16 > 0:07:23OK, it's a slow-moving car, but they need to avoid being seen by any late-night spectators.
0:07:25 > 0:07:30Clear behind. If there's no vehicles coming when we get over the brow, we're going.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35Let's go.
0:07:38 > 0:07:43And they're out. Within seconds, they're out of sight and en-route to the location.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49Driver Mike parks up at the appointed place and waits.
0:07:56 > 0:08:02I'm set up here, very close to the camera position where the guys are now installing the camera.
0:08:02 > 0:08:09I'm looking here to make sure there are no vehicles that look suspicious approaching that camera location
0:08:09 > 0:08:13while the two guys are in. If something looks a bit off,
0:08:13 > 0:08:14a bit suspect,
0:08:14 > 0:08:18I'll contact them on the radio and alert them of that fact.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25The pick-up call Mike has been waiting for comes in.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Go, go, go!
0:08:36 > 0:08:39And they're back, cameras set up and ready to roll.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43Off the record, I'm getting too old for this!
0:08:47 > 0:08:50Later on, we'll see what their hidden cameras found
0:08:50 > 0:08:52and if they had enough evidence to raid the site.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Time now to visit our friends from the north.
0:09:01 > 0:09:06This is Watery Lane in Preston, a place drowning under the problem of fly-tipping.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16We've had mattresses dumped down here.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Down the road we have everything dumped.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26Anything gets dumped down there cos there's a couple of lay-bys.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30Over here we've had chairs, tables.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Some of the items that are tipped are unbelievable.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40Changing the bathroom,
0:09:40 > 0:09:47refurbishing the house, all these things. Bathrooms, wardrobes, et cetera.
0:09:48 > 0:09:53Dick Sharples and his nephew Michael own the local timber merchants.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57The company gates are about 100 metres from a junction up this narrow road.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02It's made the lane the perfect spot for a bit of casual fly-tipping.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05Well, a lot, actually.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09All three brothers have been down here over 50 years.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Over the years, it's got worse, the more dumping that's going on.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16It gets annoying when you turn up. Most dumping happens at the weekend.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20You turn up on a Monday morning with the rubbish down here.
0:10:20 > 0:10:21You don't need it on a Monday morning!
0:10:21 > 0:10:26The problem's often so bad, it blocks the entire lane
0:10:26 > 0:10:30and the guys can't get through their gates.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34It makes is very inconvenient when you and customers can't get into your premises.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Because these guys think it's quite acceptable
0:10:38 > 0:10:42to tip their rubbish at our gate.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44You're trying to run a business
0:10:44 > 0:10:47and you can't because people are dumping stuff constantly.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51You have to clean it up all the time. We're not here to clean things up.
0:10:53 > 0:10:58Quite right, Michael. This is a family business and you should be concentrating on that,
0:10:58 > 0:11:02not shifting other people's rubbish before you can get through the door.
0:11:04 > 0:11:05We've actually had...
0:11:05 > 0:11:09OK, enough. Even I'm drowning under this!
0:11:09 > 0:11:13Someone pull the plug. That's exactly what the Sharples did.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18CCTV is just above the gate up there.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22It shines straight down. We've got the whole stretch covered.
0:11:22 > 0:11:27Fingers crossed, when people pull up, we have a really good image of them most of the time,
0:11:27 > 0:11:29and reg plates nearly always.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31It's deterred quite a few people
0:11:31 > 0:11:36but there are individuals who, whether they don't realise the cameras are there,
0:11:36 > 0:11:40or aren't concerned the cameras are there, and they carry on tipping.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44So let's take a look at some of these rotters caught in the act.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Paul Cookson, Environmental Officer, takes up the story.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54The first incident we looked at was the painter's van.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01He reversed the full length of this road, right up to the gates.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08He sort of stopped just around here.
0:12:08 > 0:12:15If you look at the road surface, you can see slight remnants of paint on the floor
0:12:15 > 0:12:20where the lad stopped the van and the paint tin fell out onto the floor.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26Once the lads had got into this location,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29all they had to do was open the back doors.
0:12:29 > 0:12:34The back doors shield them from the main road so nobody can see what the vehicle's doing.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38They're then free to throw their rubbish onto both sides.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40They were quite brazen with it.
0:12:40 > 0:12:47I mean, right behind me you can see the pole with the CCTV camera on it.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Smile, boys! The cheek of it.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52They even spot the camera and carry on!
0:12:52 > 0:12:57They were quite happy to stand by the back of the van,
0:12:57 > 0:13:02throwing the stuff as far as they could into the woodland on that side.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05On this side, they dropped it over the soil embankment.
0:13:05 > 0:13:10One thing they did was put two wooden fence panels on the side of the road.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Sheer, stupid laziness.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Oi, mate, that's my line! But he's right.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18We're not far from the local free dumps.
0:13:18 > 0:13:23Why didn't these rogues just take their stuff there, like good, decent citizens?
0:13:24 > 0:13:28It's causing a massive problem for the timber yard.
0:13:28 > 0:13:33But there's another reason why Paul is particularly annoyed with fly-tippers here.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35There are big plans for the area.
0:13:35 > 0:13:41The reason why it's so annoying to us is we're spending a lot of money developing the left-hand side
0:13:41 > 0:13:44into a nature reserve, and they're throwing pots of paint!
0:13:49 > 0:13:55Paint is a dangerous chemical. There's lots of things that took a lot of time clearing up in there.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59We've got the fence panels and the other stuff on the other side.
0:13:59 > 0:14:04So it was a considerable amount of work we had to do to clean up the mess they created.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10All in all, it's pretty disgraceful.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13The filthy rotters are damaging local businesses
0:14:13 > 0:14:15and harming local wildlife.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19At least we have them bang to rights, yeah?
0:14:20 > 0:14:24We know roughly the age of the van, we know the body style.
0:14:24 > 0:14:29We know it's got four roof bars and glass windows in the back.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31Very, very distinctive.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33Yeah, but you got them, right?
0:14:34 > 0:14:39Unfortunately, we never did manage to identify either the two lads with the van
0:14:39 > 0:14:42or identify the owner of the vehicle.
0:14:42 > 0:14:47How incredibly frustrating they couldn't read the registration on the van.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50But there has been one interesting development.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53Paul and his team found some letters in amongst the dumped rubbish
0:14:53 > 0:14:56with a woman's name and address on them.
0:14:56 > 0:15:02When we went to see her, she admitted she'd had decorating done by two young lads.
0:15:02 > 0:15:07Unfortunately, she wasn't prepared to tell us who they were
0:15:07 > 0:15:10for fear of getting them into trouble.
0:15:10 > 0:15:15She, on the other hand, was happy to take the risk of appearing at court herself
0:15:15 > 0:15:20because she'd allowed her waste to be taken away by unregistered waste carriers.
0:15:20 > 0:15:25She was prosecuted at Preston Magistrates' Court for breach of household duty of care
0:15:25 > 0:15:27and subsequently she was fined £300.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29Ouch!
0:15:29 > 0:15:31A lesson for all of us.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34You need to know who's taking your waste away.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38You can't just pass it on to any Tom, Dick or Harry and cross your fingers.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41But don't think Paul's given up on the fly-tipping criminals.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44No, not for one second!
0:15:44 > 0:15:48To this day I'm still looking for vehicles of that type.
0:15:48 > 0:15:53Either at work or at home. Whatever part of the country I'm in.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56If I see a transit van driving along the road,
0:15:56 > 0:15:59I look at the rear doors to see if I can spot glass panels.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02It's quite an unusual vehicle.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05Eventually they are going to come to our notice
0:16:05 > 0:16:10and if so, they still face the possibility of being prosecuted for fly-tipping.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12Did you hear that, boys?
0:16:12 > 0:16:13Paul will find you!
0:16:13 > 0:16:15Let's take a look at them again.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23Recognise them? If so, get in touch with Paul.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30Later in the programme, Paul follows his nose to track down
0:16:30 > 0:16:35that filthy scoundrel who dumped one stinking mess down this lane.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37The smell was horrendous.
0:16:37 > 0:16:44Each bag contained dog faeces and soiled dog bedding.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Ready to be transported to another world?
0:16:52 > 0:16:57We're situated between two very important parts of the English countryside here.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01To a peaceful place where the grass is green and the views stretch for miles?
0:17:03 > 0:17:08It's very beautiful and very important to preserve for its character.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11Where the sun shines every day of the year.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15A bit of poetic licence, but bear with me.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19We're on the foothills of The Mendips and the Cheddar Gorge...
0:17:19 > 0:17:21There's even good cheese to be had.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25..which in turn roll down to the Somerset Levels.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Did you say roll? We could make a whole picnic here!
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Seriously, though, there is a lot to recommend this place.
0:17:31 > 0:17:36Cheddar's a very rural area. Lots of beautiful views
0:17:36 > 0:17:41and tourists come a long distance to see the area. It's a very nice place to live.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43And very nice place to visit.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45Generally, it's quite a happy community.
0:17:45 > 0:17:51It's one of those villages that even though it's fairly big, everyone knows everyone.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55You just look out the window of the car
0:17:55 > 0:17:57and you see all the greenery.
0:17:57 > 0:17:58It's all so peaceful.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03Sounds lovely, doesn't it? I know what you're thinking, though.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07You're expecting me to say the place is being ruined by fly-tipping.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10Don't worry. Haven't you noticed the place is spotless?
0:18:11 > 0:18:15We never come across fly-tipping at all, around this area.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19Not anywhere. We've been out for rides. We don't see it.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Fly-tipping doesn't usually happen in Cheddar.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24It's not usually a problem for us.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30So no fly-tipping and not even the odd bit of litter?
0:18:31 > 0:18:34It's not even like big things as well, it's like cigarette butts.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37You don't see them thrown on the floor here.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39It's more respectful than that.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42People go out of their way to put it in a bin.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44It's a lot more caring, really.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48Sounds like you could eat your cheese and biscuits off the pavement!
0:18:48 > 0:18:50And that's the way the locals like it.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52They take matters into their own hands.
0:18:52 > 0:18:58They organise semi-annual litter picks where they all go out on a Sunday morning.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01Put on heavy-duty gloves, grab a litter-pick.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05They go out and sweep the entire village, not that there's much to pick up!
0:19:07 > 0:19:08Perfect.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Sorry, yes, there was something I was going to mention.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15You know that cupboard you have at home?
0:19:15 > 0:19:18The one where you throw everything in, then close the door
0:19:18 > 0:19:21and hope you won't have to open it again?
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Well, just take a look at Cheddar's dirty secret.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31It puts the kitchen cupboard in the shade, doesn't it?
0:19:31 > 0:19:34I can't even begin to count the number of bin bags in here.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38To be fair, I should say this is all on private land,
0:19:38 > 0:19:39inside a private building.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43What the eye doesn't see and all that. But let me take you outside.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!
0:19:49 > 0:19:51I feel one of my lists coming on.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54A van, about half a dozen chairs.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59The obligatory sofa. A dining room table.
0:19:59 > 0:20:04A lot of household waste, plastic containers. Hang on, is that another van?
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Yep, a second van.
0:20:06 > 0:20:11And, of course, no self-respecting fly tip is complete without some old tyres.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13Breathtaking, isn't it?
0:20:13 > 0:20:18And those poor, proud, clean and tidy residents of Cheddar
0:20:18 > 0:20:22happened across this lot while on one of their regular litter-picks.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24You can imagine their shock.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30Not so much as a cigarette butt in the village. Then this.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34It's enough to make you choke on your cheese roll.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36They got straight on to the local council.
0:20:37 > 0:20:42Looking at the site, what was happening was that the owner was starting to use this
0:20:42 > 0:20:46as a combination of a dumping ground and a storage facility.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50So he was storing all these items in the open countryside
0:20:50 > 0:20:53and from our perspective, this is agricultural land.
0:20:53 > 0:21:00This is where we should have sheep, cattle, not a place to have all this rubbish being accumulated.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04Not much room for Old MacDonald in this lot.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06And you haven't seen the half of it.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08Did I mention the boat?
0:21:10 > 0:21:12Unbelievable, isn't it?
0:21:12 > 0:21:15And, wait for it, an entire aeroplane!
0:21:15 > 0:21:19A 1950 Piper PA20 Pacer, unless I'm very much mistaken.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26And just for good measure, the shell of a second plane, too.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29How on earth did anyone get all this into one field
0:21:29 > 0:21:31without anyone else noticing?
0:21:31 > 0:21:36What was happening was that the countryside here was being ruined
0:21:36 > 0:21:38by the actions of the owner of the site.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41For that reason, we had to step in.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43But there was a problem.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46The dump was half a mile from the nearest house.
0:21:46 > 0:21:47Who owned this land?
0:21:47 > 0:21:49If the council couldn't find them,
0:21:49 > 0:21:54they'd have to clear the whole field themselves at taxpayers' expense.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58People in the Cheddar Valley stepped up and said, "Not on our doorstep."
0:21:58 > 0:22:03People have got in touch with me at the Cheddar Valley Gazette and asked could I run some photographs
0:22:03 > 0:22:05and make it known.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08So I gladly did, to be honest.
0:22:08 > 0:22:14Eventually, I'm glad to say, the council did track down the landowner
0:22:14 > 0:22:17and they made him clear up the whole mess.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22So, time for some before and after shots.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37As a newspaper, we've seen some crazy things fly-tipped in our time.
0:22:37 > 0:22:44Mannequins, a perfectly good hoover propped up against the village sign last week.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48But aeroplanes, that was an entirely new thing!
0:22:48 > 0:22:53We have a lot of tourists coming through this part of Somerset as well.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56So they come across these fields on their walks and rambles.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00It's very important to them about what they see and expect to see.
0:23:00 > 0:23:06So keeping the countryside clean and in a suitable condition is important to Sedgemoor.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08Good work all around.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10So, case closed?
0:23:10 > 0:23:12Well, almost.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15Here we are again in 2011, back at the site.
0:23:15 > 0:23:22Looking at it today, just behind the concrete building you can see emerging yet another caravan.
0:23:22 > 0:23:28So from an enforcement perspective, we'll be back here on Monday
0:23:28 > 0:23:32and chasing down the owner to ask why is his caravan back,
0:23:32 > 0:23:36what's he doing and let's restore the countryside to what it is -
0:23:36 > 0:23:37countryside.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39Hear, hear!
0:23:39 > 0:23:44The people of Cheddar don't want more nasty surprises when out on the next litter pick,
0:23:44 > 0:23:46thank you very much!
0:23:47 > 0:23:50Earlier, we saw one of my favourite stories,
0:23:50 > 0:23:54following Michael Griffiths and his team from the Environment Agency
0:23:54 > 0:23:57as they carried out a covert night-time operation
0:23:57 > 0:24:00to set up cameras to monitor a suspicious site.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04They suspect that vehicles are being broken down here
0:24:04 > 0:24:06and what can't be sold as scrap is being burned.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10Not environmentally friendly, and not legal.
0:24:10 > 0:24:16They're planning a full raid on the site, but first they need to find out what to expect.
0:24:16 > 0:24:21Michael's secret squirrel cameras have been spying on vehicles going in and out of the site.
0:24:21 > 0:24:28He's diligently spent all week trailing through a mind-blowing 1,200 hours of video.
0:24:29 > 0:24:36What we're looking for on these videos is the frequency that people have visited the site.
0:24:36 > 0:24:41Who's going to the site? How many times a day are they going to the site?
0:24:41 > 0:24:46How many vehicles are being taken on site that are potentially going to be broken up?
0:24:46 > 0:24:48This place is popular.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54An average of 60 vehicles a day
0:24:54 > 0:24:57are coming and going to the site.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01So what we've got here is an old shipping container.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05The thing about this is, if you see it as it goes past...
0:25:07 > 0:25:09..you can see it's very aged
0:25:09 > 0:25:13but that on the back indicates straightaway
0:25:13 > 0:25:16that it's a refrigerated shipping container.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19So the CFCs in that are massive.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23It really needs de-polluting at a special establishment
0:25:23 > 0:25:25and done properly.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28So when we go in and do the warrant,
0:25:28 > 0:25:32my team will be looking for the remnants of that shipping container.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36We know it went in on a specific date
0:25:36 > 0:25:38and it never came back out.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42The tractor unit that took it in did, but that never did.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48Vehicles going onto a site but not coming out can only mean one of two things.
0:25:48 > 0:25:53Either they're being destroyed, or the yard is located in the Bermuda Triangle.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56Well, as this isn't the Bermuda Triangle,
0:25:56 > 0:25:59Michael suspects they're being broken up.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06He needs evidence that things are being burned on site.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09So it's time to raid the dressing-up box.
0:26:10 > 0:26:15Today, I'm going to dress up as a fisherman, walker.
0:26:15 > 0:26:20I'm going to walk past the front entrance of the site,
0:26:20 > 0:26:23walk along the lane
0:26:23 > 0:26:26with a camera strapped to my back
0:26:26 > 0:26:31and have a look if I can place it anywhere without being seen.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34Fraught with danger.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37I've got a few cover plans in mind.
0:26:37 > 0:26:43If I get stopped and challenged, hopefully they'll believe what I say,
0:26:43 > 0:26:47that I'm a lost fisherman looking for a place to sit.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50If they believe that, they'll believe anything.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52You've got to admire this guy.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55Armed with waders and a walkie-talkie,
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Michael takes steps into the unknown for evidence of burning.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04I'm really apprehensive because on the other side of these woods,
0:27:04 > 0:27:07is a complete unknown.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09I can hear the dogs already.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Marvellous(!)
0:27:13 > 0:27:16I hope it's not me they've got the scent of.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19You and me, both, Michael.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22A nerve-wracking hour later
0:27:22 > 0:27:23and he's back with a tale to tell.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27I found myself face-to-face with two vehicles.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31One with the suspect in and another guy.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33And one with two other guys in.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36They sort of pinned me in the middle.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38But I came up with a cover story.
0:27:38 > 0:27:44I was from Cambridge doing a survey on the wildlife in the area.
0:27:44 > 0:27:50To which the suspect pointed to a rather large weed
0:27:50 > 0:27:55and said, "What's that called, then?"
0:27:55 > 0:28:02Quick-thinking as I was, I said, "I don't know the actual name of it,
0:28:02 > 0:28:06"but I do know the Latin name.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10"Which is so-and-so so-and-so."
0:28:10 > 0:28:12Which I totally made up!
0:28:12 > 0:28:15And he took it. It was unbelievable!
0:28:15 > 0:28:20Michael, you are what us Latin scholars call, "Vir audax".
0:28:20 > 0:28:23That is a brave and bold man, since you asked.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27But what about the point of the mission? Any evidence of burning?
0:28:28 > 0:28:33I totally searched the area outside the target premises.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39And there was no signs of burning whatsoever.
0:28:41 > 0:28:48So the burning must have taken place inside the perimeter of the premises.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51Ooh, a lot of adrenaline.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53A lot of stress.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56And no result.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01So after all that, Michael is no nearer getting the evidence he needs.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04Time for a bit of help from above.
0:29:05 > 0:29:09Photos from a police helicopter give Michael enough cause for concern
0:29:09 > 0:29:11about what's happening on the site.
0:29:11 > 0:29:16A decision is made. Michael and his team along with the police are going in.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22It's the morning of the raid and Michael is briefing police
0:29:22 > 0:29:24and Environment Agency Officers.
0:29:25 > 0:29:31The plan was, originally, to go and arrest the owner of the site at his home address.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35But we can't 100% house him.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38So the plan is I'm going to serve the warrant.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41I'll control the situation and tell him what I want
0:29:41 > 0:29:45and we'll move all the workers off-site, or make them sit in the caravans.
0:29:45 > 0:29:50Then I've got a team of 12 officers all geared up, ready to come in
0:29:50 > 0:29:54and we'll strip the site. There are dogs on site.
0:29:54 > 0:29:58But I'll try and get the people on the site to control those dogs.
0:29:58 > 0:30:02While we're on site, we may get visitors
0:30:02 > 0:30:07from scrap dealers and people with big wagons bringing scrap in.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09Let them through.
0:30:09 > 0:30:13Let them through. Once they get to the front of the premises,
0:30:13 > 0:30:19myself and Paul will get somebody to deal with it.
0:30:19 > 0:30:25They'll get details of the driver, details of the owner,
0:30:25 > 0:30:27details of what's in that lorry, what's scrap,
0:30:27 > 0:30:30and a prosecution will follow on them as well.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40As the convoy heads off, the pressure is starting to get to Michael.
0:30:40 > 0:30:46This is the culmination of three months of hard work.
0:30:46 > 0:30:51It falls or is a success by what happens today.
0:30:51 > 0:30:56Although we've got the evidence from the cameras,
0:30:56 > 0:30:58we still need the physical evidence today.
0:30:58 > 0:31:03Myself and Paul have been in this situation loads and loads of times.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08You don't get used to it.
0:31:08 > 0:31:13It's exciting. You get an adrenaline buzz but it's very nerve-wracking.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16There's a lot of risks. We don't know how many people are on site.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19That first five or ten minutes you're on edge.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23You don't know how it's going to go. I'm a bit apprehensive.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27Coming up: After months of preparation,
0:31:27 > 0:31:31Michael comes face-to-face with the man who runs this site.
0:31:31 > 0:31:36Apart from the two dogs, is there anything I should know about that will cause a danger?
0:31:42 > 0:31:46Back in Preston, and a particularly memorable dump - if you pardon the pun!
0:31:48 > 0:31:52I turned up for work on a Monday morning. Pulled up, and just down here
0:31:52 > 0:31:55to the floor was a load of bin bags.
0:31:55 > 0:32:00They were full of all sorts of stuff, with a horrible stench coming from them.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04When we opened them up, they were full of dog muck. The smell was revolting.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08You get a horrible smell instantly. It knocks you sick.
0:32:08 > 0:32:13I'll say. I just cannot begin to understand why someone
0:32:13 > 0:32:16would dump bin bags full of dog poo down a country lane.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19The family put in a desperate call to the council.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23When we came down to investigate this,
0:32:23 > 0:32:27we were faced with just the dumping of black bags.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30We come across black bags dumped all the time
0:32:30 > 0:32:32so it's our nature to open the bags
0:32:32 > 0:32:37to look through them to see if we can find any evidence to say where the bags are from.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39Eugh! Don't do it!
0:32:39 > 0:32:44I'm opening the bags. The contents were degraded dog faeces.
0:32:44 > 0:32:46The smell was horrendous.
0:32:46 > 0:32:53Each bag contained dog faeces and soiled dog bedding
0:32:53 > 0:32:56which was ripped up paper that had been spread about in the kennel.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59It's full of urine. It smelt to high heaven!
0:32:59 > 0:33:02Oh, no! How foul is that?
0:33:02 > 0:33:07We had to transport them to our yard where we could open them in our secure yard
0:33:07 > 0:33:11rather than disturb the waste on site and risk polluting the ground here.
0:33:11 > 0:33:15So then the next thing was that the person driving the van
0:33:15 > 0:33:19had to suffer the smell of the bags in the van all the way back to the yard.
0:33:19 > 0:33:25No-one should have to go through that for some filthy rotten scoundrel.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28It makes my stomach churn just hearing about it.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31Luckily, the dirty deed had been captured on camera.
0:33:33 > 0:33:37The chap in the red Defender came from London Road, behind us.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40He went slightly past the junction,
0:33:40 > 0:33:44immediately reversed into the track leading up the builder's yard.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47He came right up to the gates.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50He stopped his vehicle about this point
0:33:50 > 0:33:53and we could see that he opened up the back gates.
0:33:53 > 0:33:58Now, the film showed him going into the back of the vehicle
0:33:58 > 0:34:02and bringing something out and dumping it at this spot.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06Eugh! Hold your nose and avert your eyes.
0:34:06 > 0:34:11Actually, the photographic evidence is so disgusting, I'm not going to show the worst of it.
0:34:13 > 0:34:17Paul was determined to track down the dirty dumper.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20He couldn't make out the car number plate from the CCTV
0:34:20 > 0:34:23so he turned to the police for help.
0:34:23 > 0:34:30They did a broad spectrum search for red Land Rover Defenders of a certain age
0:34:30 > 0:34:31with a certain type of body.
0:34:31 > 0:34:36What the police came up with was better than Paul could have imagined.
0:34:36 > 0:34:40They came back and told us there was just one vehicle
0:34:40 > 0:34:43of that type registered in the Preston area.
0:34:43 > 0:34:45Bingo! What a result!
0:34:45 > 0:34:47And the news just got better.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53The owner of the vehicle lived less than a mile away from this location,
0:34:53 > 0:34:56just on the other side of the riverbank.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01Is that a satisfied smile I detect around your lips, Paul?
0:35:01 > 0:35:04Go on, tell us. What happened when you went to investigate?
0:35:06 > 0:35:09Lo and behold, right outside his address,
0:35:09 > 0:35:14was a V registration red Land Rover Defender
0:35:14 > 0:35:18of exactly the same body and description as the one at the scene.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21This dirty dog was busted.
0:35:21 > 0:35:23He was taken in for interview.
0:35:23 > 0:35:27When he was faced with the CCTV footage showing him dumping the waste,
0:35:27 > 0:35:30he obviously had no alternative but to admit the offence.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33Caught with his pants down.
0:35:33 > 0:35:34Naughty!
0:35:34 > 0:35:41His explanation to us was that his father had warned him to clean out the kennels on one occasion
0:35:41 > 0:35:46and that had resulted in a lot of the bags of waste being stored at the house.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48And he'd been told to get rid of them.
0:35:48 > 0:35:54He drove just onto the other side of the river into a quiet little cul-de-sac
0:35:54 > 0:35:56and threw the bags out of his van
0:35:56 > 0:35:59at the side of the road, hoping that that was it.
0:35:59 > 0:36:03He'd finished his work. He'd completed his task. He wasn't bothered.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06He wasn't bothered what happened with those bags.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10He might not have been, yet the magistrates were.
0:36:11 > 0:36:16The magistrates were not amused with his conduct and fined him £1,000 plus costs.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20- I suppose that's what happens if you...- (SNIFFS)- ..in your own back yard!
0:36:20 > 0:36:24It sent out a clear message to fly-tippers abusing this lane.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27But Michael's got a message of his own.
0:36:28 > 0:36:33When people are caught fly-tipping, because of the amount of stuff we're getting here,
0:36:33 > 0:36:36I think you should be talking maybe a prison sentence.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40Obviously not a long one, but they are breaking the law.
0:36:40 > 0:36:45They cause us a nuisance so let's cause them a nuisance and maybe lock them up.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49Back now to Michael Griffiths from the Environment Agency,
0:36:49 > 0:36:54on the trail of a gang of polluters who he suspects of breaking up and disposing of vehicles
0:36:54 > 0:36:57with no thought for the environment.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00After months of planning, spying and collecting evidence,
0:37:00 > 0:37:04Michael and his team are planning an audacious raid on the property
0:37:04 > 0:37:07to see just what's been going on.
0:37:14 > 0:37:16DOGS BARK
0:37:19 > 0:37:23I have in my possession a magistrate's warrant
0:37:23 > 0:37:27to search these premises for any evidence
0:37:27 > 0:37:32in relation to Environment Pollution regulations offences.
0:37:32 > 0:37:34They are going to search everywhere on site.
0:37:34 > 0:37:40- Apart from the dogs is there anything I should know about that's a danger?- No.
0:37:40 > 0:37:46..anything you do not mention when questioned you cannot rely on in court...
0:37:47 > 0:37:51With the suspect arrested and on his way to the police station,
0:37:51 > 0:37:55Michael and his team are free to dig in the dirt and uncover the full extent
0:37:55 > 0:37:58of what's been happening at the yard.
0:38:19 > 0:38:25Bingo! We said we were looking for the burning on site
0:38:25 > 0:38:28but we weren't sure. That's why I had a look
0:38:28 > 0:38:30last week.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33And we couldn't find it. There we go.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36This is where the massive fires were
0:38:36 > 0:38:39and you can see the extent the fires have gone.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42It's even burnt the trees.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45And there we have a fire ready to go.
0:38:45 > 0:38:49No wonder the fires could be seen for miles around.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51That bonfire is the size of a small house.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54Some of the debris on it looks all too familiar.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59During the reviewing of the evidence,
0:38:59 > 0:39:07I made comment of a trailer that came in that was a refrigerated trailer.
0:39:07 > 0:39:11The blue foam is from a refrigeration unit.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14They've brought it in, chopped it up
0:39:14 > 0:39:18and not had any care in the world for any of the environmental issues.
0:39:18 > 0:39:21And there's the evidence.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28The guys on this raid are all experienced officers.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32But even Paul, who helped set up the hidden cameras,
0:39:32 > 0:39:34is staggered by the size of the operation.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36It's big and blatant.
0:39:36 > 0:39:41We go to legit licensed scrap yards and some of them aren't half the size of this.
0:39:41 > 0:39:46This is a full-blown gory operation. It's as bad as it gets.
0:39:46 > 0:39:51All the liquids from the refrigeration, the oil in the engines, the brake fluid,
0:39:51 > 0:39:55the radiators, everything is released to the ground, causing pollution.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58Everything else that's of no value to them, they're setting fire to
0:39:58 > 0:40:02and they're making a fortune out of selling the scrap metal.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05Yeah, this is pretty gory.
0:40:05 > 0:40:10And speaking of gory, those pools of water look an odd colour.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15That's obviously full of radiator coolant.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18You get that semi-fluorescent look to it.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21So the chemicals in that... It looks quite deep.
0:40:21 > 0:40:26They'll just drain straight into the ground.
0:40:32 > 0:40:37I don't think I've seen a site as bad as this for pollutants being everywhere.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44Not really what you'd want flowing into your water supply.
0:40:44 > 0:40:49And there's so much oil on the ground, it looks like a tanker's grounded nearby.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52This is a metal tank we found on site.
0:40:52 > 0:40:56It's full of thick, black, what looks like engine oil.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59There are oil filters floating there as well.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02It's not bonded or anything, not protected.
0:41:02 > 0:41:07I'm trying to get a sample, but it's so thick it's not siphoning out of the tube.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09It'll take a while to get anything out.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13We'll analyse that and get it tested for the oil types
0:41:13 > 0:41:17and any sort of hazardous substances.
0:41:18 > 0:41:23Michael and his team spent all day collecting samples and evidence to be analysed.
0:41:23 > 0:41:28So potentially this land is blighted. It could affect the ground water.
0:41:28 > 0:41:34It could be seeping into the water course that runs along the boundary.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37As well as the chemicals,
0:41:37 > 0:41:40the team finds a vast array of engine parts.
0:41:41 > 0:41:47What we're doing is going through the vehicles that these engines have been removed from.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50We're checking them in terms of the identification numbers
0:41:50 > 0:41:52that are on the engines themselves
0:41:52 > 0:41:55and whether the engines have been de-polluted.
0:41:55 > 0:42:01So when you are dealing with engines, you have to remove all the fluids from the vehicle.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05Strip out the oils, remove the oil filters and so forth.
0:42:05 > 0:42:10We're checking these and these four engines all have oil filters still attached
0:42:10 > 0:42:16which means they haven't been de-polluted so they're potentially a hazardous waste.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23It's taken six months of planning, three government agencies
0:42:23 > 0:42:26and a lot of stress and hard work for Michael.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29But it's been worth it.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32These people think these environment issues are minor offences
0:42:32 > 0:42:34and it's not serious.
0:42:34 > 0:42:39You can see by the state of this site it's a serious offence.
0:42:39 > 0:42:43So as a result, it's fantastic.
0:42:43 > 0:42:45Good news all round.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48But the hard work's not over.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51Now Michael and his team have to work through the evidence
0:42:51 > 0:42:53to see whether they can bring a case to court.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58Every week of the year,
0:42:58 > 0:43:02dedicated teams are working hard across our villages, towns and cities,
0:43:02 > 0:43:05determined to clean up our streets.
0:43:05 > 0:43:09Join us next time, when we'll be chasing down more filthy rotten scoundrels.
0:43:27 > 0:43:30Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd