New Forest District Council strengthens approach towards environmental enforcement

Published: March 10 2026

New Forest District Council (NFDC) has approved an updated environmental enforcement policy to strengthen their response to issues such as fly tipping, littering, abandoned vehicles and waste offences.

The updated policy sets out a clear approach to environmental enforcement, supporting NFDC’s commitment to protecting neighbourhoods, open spaces and the wider New Forest environment.

Improved use of technology, including CCTV and upgraded handheld devices, will be used to speed up incident reporting and strengthen evidence gathering

Cllr Geoffrey Blunden, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, said: “We are determined to protect the New Forest’s unique environment and ensure our neighbourhoods and open spaces remain clean, safe and welcoming.”  

“This updated policy gives us the tools and clarity we need to take firm, fair and effective action against those who damage our shared spaces. Residents expect us to tackle issues like flytipping robustly, and this policy helps us do exactly that. With several recent examples of penalties handed out to offenders, we are sending a clear message to those tempted to dump waste in our district.” 

The enforcement policy report can be read at https://modgov.nfdc.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1392