Arrests Carried Out in Relation to Massive Unlawful Rubbish Dump

A pair of individuals have been taken into custody as a component of an investigation into the tipping of many thousands of tons of refuse in a field in Oxfordshire.

Law enforcement reported that a man in his late sixties was arrested at a residence in the town of Andover, while a 54-year-old was arrested in Slough, Berkshire in association with the huge mound of garbage dumped near the area of Kidlington.

These arrests follow a recent report which revealed the existence of in excess of 500 unauthorized sites across the country of England, encompassing at minimum 11 so-called "major sites" larger than 20,000 tons.

A official for the environment body said that the arrests were for environmental and proceeds of crime offences and represented a "vital step" in ongoing investigations. Both men have been let go on conditional release.

Scale of the Issue

The dump in the Kidlington area, situated between the river Cherwell and the A34, is estimated to hold approximately 21,000 tonnes of refuse in a pile which is up to 150m (490ft) lengthwise and 6m (20ft) high.

This pile of waste is consists of what looks to be processed domestic rubbish, chopped up plastic materials, expanded polystyrene, tires and assorted household articles.

It represents just one of 517 unlawful tips in England, at a minimum of 11 of which are estimated to hold more than 20,000 tonnes of waste. Such sites feature a 280,000-tonne area in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne locations in Lancashire and Cornwall county and a 36,000-tonne site in Kent.

The total figure of such major sites is expected to be larger, as the regulatory agency has in the past acknowledged it does not hold information on volume for all unlawful tip.

The majority sites are in countryside locations, typically hidden, and on land that is intended to be agricultural property.

Organised Activity

Authorities report a significant number are operated by organized crime groups, who are making money by demanding much less than legitimate firms to take and bury garbage.

Businesses have to be liable for gate fees to use lawful disposal sites, depending on the quantity and type of material they are trying to discard, and landfill tax is also levied at just over £126 per metric ton.

Community Anger

Preparation work to remove the Kidlington area dump commenced in recent weeks following fears over the risk of combustion and the impact that would have on the nearby major road.

A commercial clean-up firm has been awarded the contract to deal with the area over the coming 12 months at a expense of £9.6m.

An compliance official for the government environment unit said that the body would be aiming to recoup the remediation funds under proceeds of crime legislation from any party ultimately prosecuted at the termination of its current case.

She noted that the recent arrests would help "move the investigation forward" and enable the agency to "investigate more leads to determine precisely what transpired and who was involved".

"This unauthorized dump at the site was an atrocious and deliberate assault on our environment and officials empathize with the local outrage at this egregious offence," she remarked.

A senior official welcomed the detentions, commenting: "The unlawful deposit of rubbish at the site is appalling and has caused significant harm to the environment and upset to the local community.

"Our authorities is dedicated to stamping out this type of crime in the country, by increasing funds to combat illegal dumping, employing more personnel and implementing tougher controls and penalties for those who violate the regulations."

The arrests were carried out on the specified day by personnel from a dedicated organised crime unit and follow an previous detention of a 39-year-old from the Guildford region in last November. He was let go pending additional enquiries.