The Environment Agency (EA) has confirmed that the arrests were made yesterday (29 January 2026) following the execution of warrants by officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU).
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: “The illegal dumping of waste at Kidlington is appalling and has caused significant damage to the environment and distress to the local community.
“I welcome these arrests – an important step in securing justice for local residents.
“The government is committed to stamping out this type of criminality across the country, by boosting funds to tackle waste crime, hiring more officers and introducing tougher checks and penalties for those who break the law.”
Two arrests made
A 69-year-old man was arrested at a property in Andover, and a 54-year-old man was apprehended in Slough.
Both individuals were arrested on suspicion of environmental offences and money laundering.
They have since been released on conditional bail pending further investigation.
The latest arrests build on a previous arrest made in November 2025 and were described by the regulator as another important step towards delivering justice for the local community affected by the illegal dumping.
The Crime Unit was working in support of the EA alongside Thames Valley Police, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and Surrey Police.
Emma Viner, Enforcement and Investigations Manager in the EA’s National Environmental Crime Unit, added: “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.”
Kidlington waste crime site
EA officers first attended the Kidlington site on 2 July 2025 following reports of illegal tipping on land between the River Cherwell and the A34.
The landowner was issued with a cease-and-desist letter, but inspections later revealed waste was still being deposited.
A court order shutting down operations was granted on 23 October 2025, after which the EA confirmed no further tipping had taken place.
By that point, a vast mound of mixed waste had accumulated across the floodplain, stretching approximately 150 metres and reaching up to six metres in height.
The pile contains plastics, wood, foam and other materials and is estimated to weigh hundreds of tonnes.
Concerns over fire risk and environmental harm ultimately led the EA to authorise clearance of the site in December 2025.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Nature Mary Creagh confirmed that clearance is expected to begin in February 2026.
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