Two men have been arrested as part of a major investigation into a substantial illegal waste tipping operation at a site in Oxfordshire, close to the River Cherwell. The arrests follow the discovery of a vast 150-metre long mountain of waste dumped in a field adjacent to the A34 in Kidlington, which presents a significant pollution risk to the nearby river and has sparked widespread public anger.
Environmental Crime Unit Makes Arrests
A 69-year-old man was detained at a property in Andover, while a 54-year-old was arrested in Slough on Thursday. Both individuals were taken into custody on suspicion of environmental offences and money laundering. The arrests were conducted by officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU), who collaborated with the Environment Agency, Thames Valley Police, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, and Surrey Police.
Following their arrest, both men have been released on conditional bail as investigations continue. This development represents what the Environment Agency has described as "another welcome step in delivering justice for the local community."
Ongoing Investigation and Previous Arrest
These latest arrests follow the detention of a 39-year-old man from the Guildford area of Surrey in November, who was also released pending further investigation. The Environment Agency first received reports of waste being tipped at the Kidlington site in early July last year and attended the location shortly afterwards.
A subsequent site visit during the same month revealed no change in the situation, prompting the agency to issue a cease-and-desist letter to prevent additional dumping. When officers became aware of further illegal tipping activities in October, the Environment Agency successfully applied for a court order to close down the site entirely.
Pollution Prevention and Site Clearance
The Environment Agency has been actively working to prevent pollution from the enormous waste pile while continuing its investigation into the illegal activities. In January, the Government announced that clearance operations at the site should commence in February, with the process potentially continuing until the end of the year.
Emma Viner, enforcement and investigations manager in the Environment Agency's National Environmental Crime Unit, stated: "The illegal dump at Kidlington was an atrocious and deliberate attack on our environment, and the EA shares the community's anger at this horrific crime. Our teams have been working tirelessly with the SEROCU on this investigation. These joint efforts have resulted in further arrests, which are another vital step in collecting new evidence and progressing our investigation."
Government Response and Commitment
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds commented: "The illegal dumping of waste at Kidlington is appalling and has caused significant damage to the environment and distress to the local community. I welcome these arrests – an important step in securing justice for local residents. The Government is committed to stamping out this type of criminality across the country, by boosting funds to tackle waste crime, hiring more officers and introducing tougher checks and penalties for those who break the law."
The Environment Agency has declared the situation a critical incident due to the pollution risk posed to the River Cherwell. Members of the public with any relevant information are encouraged to contact the Environment Agency through its 24-hour incident hotline at 0800 807060, or anonymously through Crimestoppers.
