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A pair of individuals have been detained as a component of an inquiry into the tipping of many thousands of tonnes of refuse in a field in Oxfordshire.

Law enforcement reported that a 69-year-old was apprehended at a dwelling in Hampshire's Andover, while a 54-year-old was taken into custody in Slough, Berkshire in relation with the huge mound of rubbish dumped near Kidlington.

These arrests come after a prior investigation which exposed the operation of more than 500 illegal tips across England, featuring at minimum 11 so-called "super sites" larger than 20,000 tons.

A representative for the regulatory agency commented that the apprehensions were for environment-related and financial offences and represented a "crucial step" in ongoing probes. Both men have been let go on bail.

Magnitude of the Issue

The illegal site in Kidlington, located between the Cherwell River and the A34, is thought to hold around 21,000 metric tons of rubbish in a pile which is up to 150m (490ft) in length and 6m (20ft) in height.

This pile of waste is made up of what seems to be treated household waste, fragmented plastic items, polystyrene, tyres and other everyday articles.

It represents just a single of 517 unlawful dumps throughout the country, at minimum 11 of which are estimated to hold in excess of 20,000 metric tons of waste. Such sites encompass a 280,000-tonne area in the county of Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne locations in Lancashire and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne dump in the county of Kent.

The total amount of such bigger locations is probably to be greater, as the environmental agency has earlier stated it does not maintain records on tonnage for each unauthorized tip.

A large proportion of sites are in rural areas, often out of sight, and on land that should be farm land.

Criminal Activity

Law enforcement state numerous are managed by criminal organizations, who are earning profit by asking for significantly less than legitimate operators to receive and landfill waste.

Companies have to pay site fees to use licensed waste facilities, depending on the quantity and category of material they are trying to get rid of, and a waste tax is also levied at just over £126 per metric ton.

Local Outrage

Preparation efforts to remove the Kidlington location commenced recently following fears over the threat of combustion and the impact that would have on the close-by major road.

A contracted clean-up firm has been given the task to deal with the location over the following 12 months at a expense of £9.6m.

An compliance manager for the government regulatory division commented that the agency would be aiming to claim back the remediation expenses under confiscation acts from anyone convicted at the end of its ongoing case.

She further stated that this week's apprehensions would help "drive the probe forward" and allow officials to "investigate more lines of inquiry to ascertain in detail what transpired and who was implicated".

"This unlawful tip at this location was an atrocious and intentional affront on our environment and we share the community's anger at this terrible crime," she stated.

A senior representative welcomed the detentions, stating: "This unauthorized deposit of garbage at this location is utterly appalling and has resulted in significant detriment to the environment and upset to the surrounding community.

"Our government is pledged to eliminating this kind of illegal activity throughout the nation, by boosting funds to address environmental crime, hiring more officers and introducing more severe checks and sanctions for those who violate the regulations."

The apprehensions were executed on Thursday by officers from a regional serious crime unit and come after an prior apprehension of a man in his thirties from the Guildford area area in the autumn. He was released awaiting additional inquiries.