Man arrested over illegal waste tip in Kidlington
The tip is at a site near the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire
Last updated 25th Nov 2025
A man has been arrested as part of the investigation into illegal tipping of waste at a site near the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, the Environment Agency said.
The dumping of a 150-metre long mountain of waste in a field alongside the A34 in Kidlington, raising risks of pollution into the nearby river, provoked widespread outrage.
The Environment Agency, which was first alerted to the illegal waste dump in July, said co-operation between officers from its major investigation team and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit has led to the arrest of a 39-year-old man from the Guildford area.
In the wake of the arrest, Anna Burns, the Environment Agency's area director for the Thames, said: "The appalling illegal waste dump in Kidlington has rightly provoked outrage over the potential consequences for the community and environment.
"We have been working round the clock with the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit to bring the perpetrators to justice and make them pay for this offence.
"Our investigative efforts have secured an arrest today, which will be the first step in delivering justice for residents and punishing those responsible."
Phil Davies, head of the joint unit for waste crime, said: "The Environment Agency is working closely with other law enforcement partners to identify and hold those responsible for the horrendous illegal dumping of waste that has taken place in Kidlington.
"A number of active lines of investigation are being pursued by specialist officers.
"We would ask that the public and media do not speculate about the identity of any other individuals who may be connected with the offending at this location, or interfere with the waste on site as we continue to treat it as an active crime scene."