Two men arrested over Kidlington illegal waste dump

Two men have been arrested following co-ordinated police action linked to a major illegal waste dumping investigation in rural Oxfordshire.

The Environment Agency (EA) confirmed today the further arrests were made on Thursday 29 January as part of an ongoing investigation into the large-scale, illegal tipping of waste in Kidlington.

The operation was supported by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit.

See also: Video: Hertfordshire farmer faces £40,000 fly-tipping bill

Officers executed warrants at two separate locations, working in support of the EA and alongside Thames Valley Police, Hampshire Police and Surrey Police.

A 69-year-old man was arrested at a property in Andover, Hampshire, and a 54-year-old man was arrested in Slough, Berkshire.

Both were held on suspicion of environmental and money laundering offences and have since been released on conditional bail pending further investigation.

The arrests follow an earlier arrest made in November and represent further progress in the case.

Defra secretary Emma Reynolds welcomed the arrests, saying they were an “important step in securing justice for local residents”.

“The illegal dumping of waste at Kidlington is appalling and has caused significant damage to the environment and distress to the local community,” she added.

The investigation is being led by the EA’s National Environmental Crime Unit, which is seeking to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.

An EA spokesman said: “The illegal dump at Kidlington was an atrocious and deliberate attack on our environment, and the Environment Agency shares the community’s anger at this horrific crime.

“These joint efforts have resulted in further arrests, which are another vital step in collecting new evidence and progressing our investigation.”

Herts farmer backs Lords call for fly-tipping reform

A Hertfordshire farmer has welcomed calls in the House of Lords for urgent action on fly-tipping, as waste crime is estimated to cost the economy more than £1bn/year.

More than 200t of waste were dumped on a St Albans farm last summer, leaving the farmer facing clean-up costs of over £40,000.

During a recent House of Lords debate, shadow environment minister Lord Blencathra described fly-tipping as “a national organised crime on a mega scale”.

NFU member and Hertfordshire arable farmer Will Dickinson said it was encouraging to hear calls for reform, highlighting the impact on the countryside, food production and farmers who are left to cover the costs.

The NFU is calling for tougher penalties, closer co-operation between authorities and a simpler reporting system for victims.

© NFU