First Environmental Crime Officer Appointed

PC Eryl Lloyd last week took up his new position within the Environmental Crime Team at the Environment Agency's office in Bangor.

For the next 12 months, Eryl, who has served with North Wales Police for seven years, will be tackling issues to do with pollution arising from land use, waste management, regulation and transportation, as well as climate change, renewable energy and water quality.

Eryl, who comes from Colwyn Bay, will cover the whole of North Wales - from Machynleth to the Dee Estuary.

‘The evidence is clear that those who engage in environmental crime are also involved in other areas of criminal activity,’ said Eryl, who has a background in agriculture and a degree in countryside management.

‘Through focusing on environmental crime such as illegal fishing, pollution, burning of waste, illegal waste transportation and dumping, and the destruction of wildlife habitats I will be able to tackle offenders and assist officers in their investigations.’

‘At the same time I will be able to tackle the criminality from a police officer perspective, and then hopefully disseminate any intelligence gathered to the relevant areas.’

According to Clive Wolfendale, Deputy Chief Constable, the post was created because everyone is becoming more concerned about the need to protect our natural heritage.

‘We are determined to play our part in investigating and prosecuting those who abuse the environment through crimes ranging from fly tipping to industrial polluters.’

Alan Winstone, environment manager added: ‘Eryl's role will be to act as a link between the Agency and North Wales Police and other enforcement agencies - to share good practice and to help raise awareness of environmental crime in North Wales.’

‘He will be mainly working on combating illegal waste and fisheries activities. These include large-scale fly-tipping, illegal disposal of waste, transfrontier shipments of waste, poaching of salmon and sea trout and theft of fish.