Arrests Executed in Connection to Massive Illegal Rubbish Dump

Two individuals have been taken into custody as an element of an probe into the tipping of many thousands of metric tons of rubbish in a rural field in Oxfordshire, England.

Law enforcement reported that a 69-year-old was apprehended at a dwelling in Hampshire's Andover, while a 54-year-old was detained in the town of Slough in connection with the huge mound of garbage deposited near Kidlington, Oxfordshire.

These detentions occur a week after a recent investigation which exposed the existence of more than 500 illegal tips in the country of England, including at a minimum of 11 so-called "super sites" larger than 20,000 tons.

A spokeswoman for the regulatory agency stated that the arrests were for environmental and proceeds of crime violations and represented a "vital step" in active inquiries. The two individuals have been set free on pre-trial release.

Magnitude of the Problem

The tipping ground in the Kidlington area, situated between the Cherwell River and the A34 highway, is estimated to house about 21,000 tonnes of waste in a heap which is up to 150m (490ft) lengthwise and 6m (20ft) high.

This heap of garbage is consists of what looks to be treated domestic refuse, chopped up plastic materials, polystyrene, automobile tires and other domestic objects.

It is just one example of 517 unauthorized dumps in England, at least 11 of which are estimated to hold over 20,000 tons of rubbish. These feature a 280,000-tonne site in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne sites in Lancashire county and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne site in Kent.

The overall amount of such larger locations is expected to be greater, as the environmental authority has in the past indicated it does not hold records on weight for each unlawful dump.

The majority such locations are in rural settings, typically out of sight, and on land that is zoned as arable property.

Criminal Enterprise

Police say a significant number are operated by criminal organizations, who are generating cash by asking for significantly less than lawful companies to accept and dispose of rubbish.

Firms have to be liable for site fees to use licensed disposal sites, based on the amount and type of material they are trying to get rid of, and a disposal levy is also applied at just over £126 per ton.

Public Frustration

Preparatory work to clean up the Kidlington area dump started earlier this month due to concerns over the potential of combustion and the consequences that would have on the nearby highway.

A commercial waste clearance firm has been granted the task to handle the area over the coming 12 months period at a cost of £9.6m.

An investigations officer for the government regulatory division said that the authority would be looking to recover the remediation expenses under proceeds of crime laws from anyone successfully found guilty at the conclusion of its active inquiry.

She further stated that this week's apprehensions would help "push the investigation forward" and allow officials to "investigate more avenues to understand precisely what occurred and who was a party to it".

"This illegal site at Kidlington was an shocking and calculated assault on our ecology and officials share the community's outrage at this egregious act," she stated.

A cabinet official supported the arrests, adding: "This unauthorized tipping of rubbish at the site is utterly appalling and has resulted in considerable damage to the environment and distress to the nearby population.

"The government is dedicated to eradicating this type of illegal activity across the nation, by increasing financing to tackle waste crime, employing more personnel and introducing tougher controls and sanctions for those who flout the law."

The detentions were executed on a recent Thursday by personnel from a dedicated crime squad and come after an earlier apprehension of a 39-year-old from the Guildford region in November. He was set free pending more inquiries.