Two men have been arrested as part of a major investigation into a large-scale illegal waste tipping operation at a site in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. The dumping of a 150-metre long mountain of waste in a field alongside the A34 poses a significant pollution risk to the nearby River Cherwell, has sparked widespread outrage, and was declared a critical incident by the Environment Agency.
Arrests Made in Multi-Agency Operation
The Environment Agency confirmed that a 69-year-old man was arrested at a property in Andover and a 54-year-old man was arrested in Slough on Thursday. Both individuals were detained for alleged environmental offences and money laundering. The arrests were carried out by officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, working in support of the Environment Agency and alongside Thames Valley Police, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, and Surrey Police. Both men have been released on conditional bail pending further investigation.
Chronology of the Illegal Dumping Incident
The first report of waste being tipped at the Kidlington site was made in early July last year, according to the Environment Agency, which attended the location shortly afterwards. A further site visit conducted the same month showed no change, prompting the agency to issue a cease-and-desist letter to prevent additional tipping. When officers became aware of more dumping in October, the Environment Agency applied for and secured a court order to close down the site. Since then, the agency has been taking action to prevent pollution from the waste pile and investigate the illegal activity.
Government Response and Clearance Plans
In January, the Government announced that an operation to clear the site should begin in February, with the process potentially taking until the end of the year to complete. This development follows the arrest in November of a 39-year-old man from the Guildford area of Surrey in connection with the same case.
Official Statements on the Investigation
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."
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds added: "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."
Reporting Information and Community Impact
The Environment Agency has encouraged anyone with information to come forward. Details can be reported through its 24-hour incident hotline at 0800 807060, or anonymously to Crimestoppers. The illegal waste tip has not only created environmental hazards but has also deeply affected the local community, prompting calls for stronger enforcement against waste crime nationwide.
