Two men from Surrey have been arrested as part of the continuing investigation into the huge illegal waste dump near Kidlington, bringing the total number of arrests to six.
At a glance
| Latest arrests | A 21-year-old man from Ashford, Surrey, and a 43-year-old man from Stanwell, Surrey |
| Total arrests | Six |
| Current status | The two latest men have been released on conditional bail while inquiries continue |
| Charges | The latest Environment Agency statement does not announce any charges |
| Lead investigators | Environment Agency National Environmental Crime Unit |
| Supporting agencies | Surrey Police and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit |
| Waste removed | An estimated 22,105 tonnes |
| Site status | The waste has been cleared and the entrance secured |
| Provide information | Call the Environment Agency on 0800 807060 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 |
The Environment Agency announced the latest arrests on Tuesday 8 September as investigators continued examining the large-scale dumping of commercial and household waste on land near the A34.
A 21-year-old man from Ashford in Surrey and a 43-year-old man from Stanwell in Surrey were arrested with support from Surrey Police and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit.
Neither man has been named. Both have been released on conditional bail pending further investigation.
The latest arrests follow four made between November 2025 and February 2026.
Six arrests made during the investigation
The first arrest was made in November 2025, when a 39-year-old man from the Guildford area was detained.
Two further men were arrested during warrants carried out in Andover and Slough in January. The Environment Agency said at the time that those arrests related to suspected environmental and money-laundering offences.
A fourth man, aged 52 and from Ashford in Surrey, was arrested in February.
The two latest arrests bring the total number of people detained during the investigation to six.
The Environment Agency has not disclosed what role it suspects either of the two latest men played, the evidence leading to their arrests or the conditions attached to their bail.
Legal status of the investigation
The two men have been arrested and released on conditional bail while inquiries continue.
The latest Environment Agency statement does not say that they, or any of the four people previously arrested, have been charged or convicted.
An arrest is not a finding of guilt. Everyone connected with the investigation is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until a court determines otherwise.
Colin Chiverton, Area Environment Manager for the Thames at the Environment Agency, said the investigation was continuing despite the physical clearance of the site.
“These arrests are another vital step in collecting new evidence and delivering justice for the residents of Kidlington.”
The investigation is being led by the Environment Agency’s National Environmental Crime Unit, which handles serious and organised environmental offending.
How the Kidlington waste site developed
The Environment Agency says officers first attended the site on 2 July 2025 after receiving a report that waste was being deposited there.
A further visit later that month found no additional deposits, and a cease-and-desist letter was issued.
Officials subsequently became aware of further activity at the site in October. The Environment Agency then applied for a court restriction order, which was granted on 23 October 2025.
The agency says no further tipping took place after the court order was imposed.
The enormous accumulation of commercial and household rubbish included tyres, shredded plastic and mixed domestic waste. The site, which was described as larger than the football pitch at Wembley Stadium, stood close to the A34 and River Cherwell.
The scale and location of the dump caused concern about fire, air quality, the neighbouring road network and the surrounding environment.
Kidlington waste investigation timeline
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| 2 July 2025 | Environment Agency officers attend following the first report of waste being tipped. |
| July 2025 | A further inspection finds no change and a cease-and-desist letter is issued. |
| 23 October 2025 | A court restriction order closes the site. The Environment Agency says no further tipping takes place after this date. |
| 25 November 2025 | The first arrest is made as part of the investigation. |
| 29 January 2026 | Two men are arrested during warrants at properties in Andover and Slough. |
| 2 February 2026 | A fourth man is arrested in Ashford, Surrey. |
| April 2026 | The main clearance operation begins. |
| 27 August 2026 | The Environment Agency confirms that an estimated 22,105 tonnes of waste have been removed. |
| 8 September 2026 | Two further arrests are announced, bringing the total to six. |
Waste removed but investigation remains active
The Environment Agency confirmed in August that the physical clearance of the site had been completed.
An estimated 22,105 tonnes of waste were excavated and taken away, including material that had been buried beneath soil.
Specialist teams moved as many as 30 lorry loads from the site in a day during the operation.
Concrete blocks have since been placed at the entrance and the main gate has been padlocked to prevent vehicles entering.
Clearance of the waste does not mean the criminal investigation has ended. Investigators are continuing to examine who organised the dumping, how the waste was transported to the site and whether further offences were committed.
Government links case to wider waste-crime crackdown
The Government has placed the Kidlington investigation within a broader effort to tackle serious and organised waste crime.
Its announced measures include more frontline Environment Agency officers, greater use of drones and closer intelligence-sharing between regulators, police forces and local authorities.
A Waste Crime Crackdown Group has also been established to coordinate work between enforcement organisations.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said the latest arrests represented another step towards securing justice for people who had lived alongside the Kidlington dump.
The outcome of the Kidlington investigation will depend on the evidence gathered and any subsequent decisions by investigators and prosecutors.
How to provide information
The Environment Agency is continuing to ask anyone with information about the dumping, vehicles that visited the site or people involved in moving the waste to come forward.
| Environment Agency incident hotline | 0800 807060, available 24 hours a day |
| Anonymous information | Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 |
| Report online anonymously | Use the Crimestoppers online form |
| Official arrest update | Read the Environment Agency announcement |
| Site updates | Follow the Environment Agency’s Kidlington project page |
Members of the public should not attempt to investigate the site or identify people they believe may be connected with the case.
Frequently asked questions
How many people have been arrested?
Six people have now been arrested during the Environment Agency investigation: one in November 2025, two in January 2026, one in February and two announced on 8 September.
Who are the two latest men?
The Environment Agency has identified them only as a 21-year-old man from Ashford in Surrey and a 43-year-old man from Stanwell in Surrey. Their names have not been released.
Have the men been charged?
The latest statement does not announce any charges. The two men have been released on conditional bail while further inquiries are carried out.
What does conditional bail mean?
It means the men have been released while the investigation continues and may be required to comply with specified conditions. The Environment Agency has not published those conditions.
Does an arrest mean someone is guilty?
No. An arrest allows investigators to question a person and pursue lines of inquiry. Guilt can be determined only through the criminal justice process.
Has the Kidlington waste dump been cleared?
Yes. The Environment Agency says an estimated 22,105 tonnes of illegally deposited waste have been removed.
Is the site now open to the public?
No public reopening has been announced. The entrance remains blocked with concrete barriers and the main gate is padlocked.
When did the dumping stop?
The Environment Agency says no further tipping took place after a court restriction order was granted on 23 October 2025.
What was found at the site?
The waste included tyres, shredded plastic, household rubbish and other commercial and domestic material.
Is the criminal investigation complete?
No. The National Environmental Crime Unit is continuing to gather evidence and investigate who was responsible.
How can information be reported?
Call the Environment Agency on 0800 807060. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or through its website.
