Rural Unlawfulness

One of the many implications of lockdown and changed lifestyles and social interaction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the significant increase in rural farmers and other landowners reporting unlawful entry and use of their land.

The most common issue has been fly-tipping – the unlawful and unauthorised dumping of waste.  Any landowner who discovers fly-tipping is faced with the immediate question of what to do – who to contact, whether to clear and remove it, whether it is their responsibility, etc.?  In theory, if the fly-tipping is on the highway or public land, it is the responsibility of the local authority.  If it is on private land, it is the responsibility of the owner or occupier of that land.