Man arrested in connection with massive illegal waste dump

A man has been arrested in connection with the large-scale illegal tipping of waste in Oxfordshire, police have said.

The 39-year-old, from the Guildford area, was arrested on Tuesday following co-operation between the Environment Agency (EA) and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit. Last week, the EA declared the 40ft-high mountain of waste near Kidlington a "critical incident".

Anna Burns, the Environment Agency's area director for the Thames, said that the "appalling illegal waste dump... 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," she added. "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, added that the EA "is working closely with other law enforcement partners to identify and hold those responsible for the horrendous illegal dumping of waste".

He then said: "A number of active lines of investigation are being pursued by specialist officers." Sky News drone footage captured the sheer scale of the rubbish pile, which is thought to weigh hundreds of tonnes and comprise multiple lorry loads of waste. Read more from Sky News:Woman wakes up in coffin at crematorium'Milkshake tax' to be introduced in budget The EA said that officers attended the site on 2 July after the first report of waste tipping, and that a cease-and-desist letter was issued to prevent illegal activity.

After continued activity, the agency added that a court order was granted on 23 October. No further tipping has taken place at the site since..