Key facts
- Two men from Surrey have been arrested in connection with an illegal waste dump in Kidlington, Oxfordshire.
- The arrests bring the total number of individuals apprehended to six.
- The Environment Agency is leading the investigation into the waste dumping.
- The site contained approximately 21,000 tonnes of waste and has since been cleared.
- The arrested men have been released on conditional bail.
Two men, aged 21 and 43, from Surrey have been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into a significant illegal waste dump discovered in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. The arrests bring the total number of individuals apprehended in connection with the site to six. The Environment Agency (EA) announced the arrests, stating that the dumping was 'abhorrent' and disregarded the local community.
The investigation is being led by the EA's National Environmental Crime Unit, with support from Surrey Police and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit. The two men have been released on conditional bail pending further inquiries.
The site, located near the River Cherwell and the A34, contained an estimated 21,000 tonnes of waste, forming a pile approximately 150 meters long and 6 meters high. The waste, which included tyres, shredded plastic, and household rubbish, was removed during a five-month clean-up operation costing an estimated £6 million. The site was first reported last summer and gained wider attention in October 2025, leading to a court order for its closure and a declaration of a critical incident in November 2025. Concrete blocks have since been placed at the entrance, and the gate padlocked to prevent re-access.