Enviro-crime refers to any illegal activity that breaches environmental legislation and causes significant harm or risk to the environment and/or human health. This includes:
- Fly tipping
- Fly posting
- Graffiti
- Litter
- Dog fouling
Enviro-crime
Our services
Investigating reports
Our online reporting system allows residents to tell us about incidents of enviro-crime, which means we can act quickly. We will investigate all reports and take enforcement action wherever necessary.
Street patrols
Our officers carry out regular foot and vehicle patrols, covering town centres, parks, seafronts, residential areas, and known enviro-crime hotspots. Their presence helps deter offences such as littering, dog fouling, and fly-tipping — while also providing a visible point of contact for members of the public.
Dropping litter in a public place is a criminal offence. Our officers can issue an ‘on the spot’ fine (known as fixed penalty notices, or FPNs) if they witness someone littering. This includes dropping cigarette butts, food packaging and chewing gum.
Dog fouling is a health hazard and one of the most reported issues in our parks and neighbourhoods. We monitor known problem areas and can issue fines to owners who fail to pick up after their pets.
Find out more
If you live in Torbay, you can find out more about reporting enviro-crime on the council’s site. You can also use our 'report it' link at the top of this page.