Are Environmental Offences Going Unpunished? Residents Urged to Report Violations

A new push aims to tackle illegal activities harming Cornwall’s wildlife and environment

Residents are being called on to help protect Cornwall’s environment by reporting suspicious activities that could be harming nature and wildlife.

The Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership (CIoSLNP) has launched a campaign to make it easier for the public to report environmental offences, from illegal tree felling to marine pollution.

What’s Being Done?

The campaign follows a recent review recommending improvements to environmental enforcement and compliance across the region. Conducted by the University of Exeter, the review examined the work of seven key agencies, including the Marine Management Organisation, Cornwall Council, the Environment Agency, and Devon and Cornwall Police.

Researchers from the university’s Centre for Environmental Law looked at the powers and responsibilities of these bodies, held workshops, and interviewed representatives to identify enforcement challenges. Their findings highlight a need for better reporting systems, reduced overlaps between agencies, and improved engagement with the public.

A Central Hub for Reporting Issues

The Local Nature Partnership has introduced new measures to improve collaboration between agencies and make reporting environmental offences simpler. A new web page, Help Protect Our Wildlife and Environment, outlines which organisation to contact for different issues, such as:

• Illegal tree felling
• Poaching and animal cruelty
• River and marine pollution
• Illegal fishing
• Disturbance to wildlife

It also provides guidance on what to do if you find stranded seabirds or animals in distress.

Why Reporting Matters

Lord Teverson, Chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership, emphasised the importance of enforcing environmental laws, saying:

“If there is one thing I have learnt as a law maker, firstly in the European Parliament and now in the House of Lords, it is that there is absolutely no point in passing laws and new legislation if no one is going to enforce them.

“Poor enforcement also means that people who ignore rules and regulations put those that play by the rules at a disadvantage. That’s not right. And all of this is especially true when it comes to protecting nature and the environment around us.

“So that’s why, as the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership, we have taken this issue seriously and have produced a simple guide to reporting environmental damage and crime.”

The Need for Action

The review found several issues affecting environmental compliance in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, including:

• Confusing regulations and overlapping responsibilities
• Limited collaboration between agencies
• Poor communication with the public
• Low funding and staff shortages

While some infringements have been tackled with proactive advice rather than legal action, there has been an increased use of formal cautions and prosecutions in certain cases. Overall, compliance has declined in the region, mirroring a national trend.

Dr Tiago de Melo Cartaxo, Lead of the Exeter Centre for Environmental Law, warned of the risks:

“There has been a perceived downturn in environmental compliance nationally which we have found is reflected at the local level in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This is highly concerning given the biodiversity and climate crises.

“We hope this report and its recommendations may allow agencies to move towards more effective, efficient, and sustainable environmental governance, taking opportunities to reform and improve the environmental regulatory landscape. Improvements in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly could also inform regulatory reform across the UK to delivering better environmental outcomes.”

How to Get Involved

Councillor Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council’s cabinet member for environment and climate change, encouraged residents to play their part in protecting the region’s landscapes and marine environments:

“Our region is home to beautiful, varied landscapes and marine environments which we must preserve. Ensuring environmental regulations are followed by everyone is a key part of protecting our nature and wildlife.

“Together with all our partners responsible for environmental enforcement we are working hard to implement some of the achievable recommendations that are within our local control and set out in the review.

“We need everyone’s eyes, ears and voice to let the right agency know when they spot something that doesn’t look quite right which could be harming our environment or wildlife.”

Organisations and community groups can also request a hard copy of a poster outlining how to report environmental offences by emailing grow-nature@cornwall.gov.uk with “Environment Poster” in the subject line.