Arrests Made in Link to Massive Unauthorized Rubbish Dump
Two men have been arrested as part of an investigation into the illegal deposit of many thousands of tons of rubbish in a field in the county of Oxfordshire.
Law enforcement reported that a 69-year-old was arrested at a dwelling in Andover, Hampshire, while a 54-year-old was detained in the town of Slough in association with the huge heap of garbage tipped near the area of Kidlington.
These arrests follow a recent revelation which uncovered the existence of more than 500 unlawful tips across the country of England, including at least 11 so-called "super sites" bigger than 20,000 metric tons.
A representative for the environmental body commented that the arrests were for environment-related and proceeds of crime violations and were a "vital step" in ongoing investigations. The apprehended men have been let go on pre-trial release.
Scale of the Situation
The dump in the Kidlington area, situated between the river Cherwell and the A34 road, is estimated to contain around 21,000 tonnes of refuse in a heap which is up to 150m (490ft) long and 6m (20ft) tall.
This pile of rubbish is made up of what appears to be treated household waste, chopped up plastics, expanded polystyrene, tires and assorted everyday objects.
It represents just a single of 517 unlawful dumps in England, at minimum 11 of which are estimated to hold over 20,000 tons of waste. Such sites include a 280,000-tonne location in the county of Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne locations in Lancashire and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne dump in Kent.
The actual number of such larger sites is likely to be larger, as the environment authority has in the past stated it does not possess records on weight for each illegal site.
The majority such locations are in countryside settings, typically hidden, and on land that should be arable ground.
Organized Enterprise
Law enforcement say a significant number are managed by organized crime groups, who are making cash by demanding much less than legitimate firms to take and landfill garbage.
Companies have to pay disposal fees to use licensed disposal sites, contingent on the amount and type of refuse they are trying to dispose of, and landfill tax is also applied at just over £126 per tonne.
Community Frustration
Preparatory efforts to clear the Kidlington location started earlier this month amid fears over the risk of fire and the impact that would have on the nearby major road.
A contracted waste removal company has been given the job to deal with the area over the next 12 months at a price of £9.6m.
An enforcement officer for the government environmental crime unit stated that the body would be looking to claim back the clean-up funds under proceeds of crime legislation from any individual successfully convicted at the termination of its active inquiry.
She further stated that the recent arrests would help "move the investigation forward" and enable officials to "investigate more leads to ascertain exactly what transpired and who was implicated".
"The illegal site at this location was an shocking and intentional assault on our natural surroundings and the authorities share the local outrage at this horrific offence," she remarked.
A senior official supported the detentions, adding: "The unlawful deposit of garbage at this location is disgraceful and has resulted in considerable harm to the natural world and upset to the surrounding population.
"The authorities is pledged to eliminating this type of crime across the nation, by augmenting funds to combat illegal dumping, employing more personnel and introducing stricter controls and sanctions for those who break the regulations."
The apprehensions were made on Thursday by personnel from a specialist serious crime squad and come after an earlier arrest of a 39-year-old from the Guildford area in the autumn. He was set free subject to further investigations.
