Two cautioned after waste fraud investigation

Two people have been cautioned following a police investigation into fraud at a waste depot.

It was alleged that payments had been taken to mis-report the amount of waste being brought into Bristol Waste's site in Kings Weston Lane, Avonmouth.

Avon and Somerset Police said two men received conditional cautions for fraud by abuse of position in January and that "no further action will be taken against any of the other individuals who were questioned".

A Bristol Waste spokesperson said the council-owned company "is not and has never been under investigation".

During enquires a number of individuals voluntarily attended police interviews before the case was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in October 2024, a police spokesperson said.

After considering whether any charges should be brought, the CPS indicated that two of the men should receive conditional cautions.

"All parties have been updated of the outcome," the spokesperson added.

It is understood the investigation centred around a depot with a commercial weighbridge, where firms can take their waste, have it weighed and pay to have it removed.

It was alleged that people were taking payments to mis-report the amount of waste that was being brought in via the weighbridge, or not reporting it at all.

Bristol Waste said it had become aware of possible fraudulent activity at one of its depots in 2020 and had taken "immediate action" at the time to ensure security at the site.

It added it had "handed over all potential evidence and information to the police".

"Any further police investigation has been focused on specific individuals who are not employees of Bristol Waste," a spokesperson said.

"The company is not and has never been under investigation."

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