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Two individuals have been arrested as part of an probe into the illegal deposit of several thousand of metric tons of refuse in a open field in the county of Oxfordshire.

Law enforcement stated that a 69-year-old was detained at a dwelling in Hampshire's Andover, while a 54-year-old was detained in Slough in connection with the enormous pile of waste deposited near Kidlington, Oxfordshire.

These arrests follow a prior report which exposed the operation of more than 500 illegal dumps across the country of England, featuring at a minimum of 11 so-called "super sites" greater than 20,000 tons.

A official for the environment body said that the detentions were for ecological and proceeds of crime crimes and constituted a "vital step" in ongoing probes. The two individuals have been let go on bail.

Scale of the Situation

The illegal site in near Kidlington, positioned between the river Cherwell and the A34, is thought to contain around 21,000 metric tons of refuse in a mound which is up to 150m (490ft) lengthwise and 6m (20ft) tall.

This heap of rubbish is composed of what appears to be treated residential refuse, fragmented plastic items, expanded polystyrene, automobile tires and other domestic articles.

It represents just one example of 517 unlawful tips throughout England, at minimum 11 of which hold over 20,000 metric tons of rubbish. They include a 280,000-tonne site in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne locations in Lancashire county and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne tip in the county of Kent.

The total figure of such major dumps is expected to be higher, as the environmental body has in the past indicated it does not hold records on volume for every unauthorized tip.

Most sites are in rural locations, typically concealed, and on land that is zoned as agricultural property.

Organised Activity

Police state a significant number are operated by organised crime gangs, who are generating money by demanding significantly less than licensed operators to take and landfill garbage.

Companies have to incur disposal fees to use legitimate waste facilities, contingent on the volume and nature of waste they are trying to discard, and landfill tax is also applied at just over £126 per tonne.

Public Anger

Preparatory operations to remove the affected location commenced recently due to fears over the threat of combustion and the effect that would have on the adjacent A-road.

A contracted waste clearance firm has been given the task to handle the location over the following 12 months period at a expense of £9.6m.

An enforcement official for the national regulatory division said that the agency would be seeking to recover the clean-up expenses under proceeds of crime acts from any party convicted at the end of its active investigation.

She noted that this week's arrests would help "move the inquiry forward" and enable officials to "follow more leads to determine in detail what transpired and who was involved".

"The illegal dump at Kidlington was an appalling and deliberate attack on our environment and officials share the community's outrage at this horrific act," she remarked.

A senior official supported the arrests, stating: "This unlawful tipping of rubbish at this location is utterly appalling and has resulted in significant damage to the ecology and upset to the nearby residents.

"The authorities is pledged to eliminating this kind of crime throughout the nation, by boosting funds to tackle illegal dumping, employing more personnel and implementing stricter controls and sanctions for those who violate the regulations."

The detentions were made on the specified day by agents from a dedicated crime unit and follow an earlier apprehension of a 39-year-old from the Surrey area in last November. He was released subject to further inquiries.