Arrests Executed in Connection to Enormous Illegal Waste Site
Two men have been arrested as part of an inquiry into the illegal deposit of many thousands of tons of refuse in a rural field in Oxfordshire, England.
Law enforcement indicated that a 69-year-old was apprehended at a dwelling in Andover, Hampshire, while a 54-year-old was detained in the town of Slough in association with the massive heap of garbage tipped near the area of Kidlington.
These detentions come after a prior report which revealed the operation of over 500 unlawful tips in England, including at least 11 so-called "major sites" bigger than 20,000 tons.
A representative for the environmental authorities stated that the arrests were for ecological and money laundering crimes and represented a "vital step" in active inquiries. The apprehended men have been released on conditional release.
Magnitude of the Situation
The dump in the Kidlington area, positioned between the River Cherwell and the A34, is estimated to contain about 21,000 metric tons of refuse in a heap which is up to 150m (490ft) lengthwise and 6m (20ft) high.
This heap of garbage is composed of what looks to be sorted residential waste, chopped up plastics, Styrofoam, tyres and other everyday articles.
It represents just one example of 517 unlawful sites in England, at a minimum of 11 of which contain in excess of 20,000 tonnes of waste. Such sites encompass a 280,000-tonne site in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne areas in Lancashire county and Cornwall county and a 36,000-tonne dump in Kent.
The total number of such larger sites is expected to be higher, as the regulatory agency has in the past indicated it does not hold information on tonnage for all illegal tip.
The majority such locations are in countryside areas, frequently hidden, and on land that is intended to be farm land.
Organised Enterprise
Law enforcement report many are managed by criminal organizations, who are making profit by asking for significantly less than legitimate operators to take and dispose of waste.
Companies have to pay gate fees to use legitimate disposal sites, based on the amount and type of material they are trying to dispose of, and a waste tax is also levied at just over £126 per ton.
Public Outrage
Preparation efforts to clear the Kidlington location started in recent weeks following fears over the threat of fire and the effect that would have on the close-by major road.
A commercial waste clearance company has been given the job to handle the location over the coming 12 months period at a cost of £9.6m.
An compliance official for the national environmental crime division commented that the body would be aiming to claim back the remediation funds under asset recovery laws from any individual ultimately found guilty at the termination of its current inquiry.
She added that these arrests would help "move the inquiry forward" and enable the agency to "follow more leads to determine in detail what transpired and who was involved".
"This illegal site at the site was an shocking and intentional assault on our natural surroundings and we empathize with the public's frustration at this terrible offence," she stated.
A senior official welcomed the arrests, stating: "The unauthorized deposit of waste at the site is disgraceful and has resulted in substantial detriment to the natural world and distress to the surrounding population.
"Our government is pledged to eradicating this type of crime in the country, by augmenting financing to address environmental crime, recruiting more officers and implementing more severe controls and fines for those who flout the regulations."
The detentions were carried out on the specified day by personnel from a dedicated serious crime team and follow an earlier detention of a man in his thirties from the Guildford area area in the autumn. He was let go pending further enquiries.
