Only one prosecution made after 15,195 wood-burning complaints in a year in England

"Only one prosecution for illegal wood burning has been made in the past year despite 15,195 complaints across England, data shows. Additionally, just 24 fines were issued by local authorities between September 2024 and August 2025, responses to freedom of information requests by the campaign group Mums for Lungs revealed. In smoke control areas alone, 9,274 complaints were made a 65% increase on the previous year."

"In these areas, households may burn wood or other fuels only in stoves approved by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) that have been designed to limit harmful emissions. Under the Environment Act 2021, fines can be issued for violating rules, including 300 for smoke-emitting chimneys, or 1,000 for using unauthorised fuel in unapproved appliances. The highest numbers of complaints were reported in Swale in Kent, Birmingham, Manchester, Wakefield and Dorset, though most councils issued few or no penalties."

"Dr James Heydon, an assistant professor of criminology at the University of Nottingham, whose research focuses on environmental and social policy, said: As an air pollution scientist, I get emails each winter from people whose homes are being filled by their neighbour's wood smoke. Many are desperately worried about the impact on their child's asthma or the health of their relative. Often they have exhausted the options with their local council. The system is clearly not working for them."

Only one prosecution for illegal wood burning occurred in the past year despite 15,195 complaints across England and just 24 fines issued by local authorities between September 2024 and August 2025. In smoke control areas there were 9,274 complaints, a 65% increase on the previous year. Households in smoke control areas may burn fuel only in Defra-approved stoves designed to limit emissions, and the Environment Act 2021 allows fines for breaches. The highest complaint numbers appeared in Swale, Birmingham, Manchester, Wakefield and Dorset, while most councils issued few or no penalties. Air pollution from wood smoke is a leading source of PM2.5 and is linked to serious health harms, including rising lung cancer rates among never-smokers and tens of thousands of premature deaths annually with large economic costs.

Read at www.theguardian.com