Man arrested in connection with massive illegal waste dump in Kidlington, Oxfordshire

The Environment Agency (EA) has announced the arrest of a 39-year-old man in connection with the large-scale illegal dumping of waste in Oxfordshire, after a joint operation with the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit.

The suspect, from the Guildford area, was detained on Tuesday following the discovery of a 40ft-high mound of rubbish near Kidlington, which the EA last week declared a “critical incident.”

The illegal dumping site, located on the edge of Kidlington, has sparked widespread anger among residents and environmental groups. Anna Burns, the EA’s area director for the Thames, condemned the site as an “appalling illegal waste dump” and said public outrage over the potential environmental and community impact was fully justified.

“We have been working round the clock with the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit to bring the perpetrators to justice and make them pay for this offence,” she said. “Our investigative efforts have secured an arrest today, which is the first step toward delivering justice for residents and punishing those responsible.”

Phil Davies, head of the Joint Unit for Waste Crime, said the EA is working closely with law enforcement partners to “identify and hold those responsible for the horrendous illegal dumping of waste.”

He added that multiple active lines of investigation are underway, led by specialist officers.

Drone footage captured by Sky News revealed the immense scale of the rubbish pile — estimated to weigh hundreds of tonnes and made up of multiple lorry loads of waste.

According to the EA, officers first attended the site on 2 July after receiving reports of waste tipping. A cease-and-desist letter was issued, but illegal activity continued. A court order was subsequently granted on 23 October, after which no further tipping has occurred.