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Two individuals have been arrested as a component of an inquiry into the dumping of thousands of metric tons of refuse in a field in Oxfordshire.

Officials reported that a 69-year-old was apprehended at a property in Andover, Hampshire, while a 54-year-old was arrested in the town of Slough in connection with the enormous mound of garbage dumped near Kidlington.

These detentions come after a recent investigation which revealed the presence of in excess of 500 unlawful dumps in England, encompassing at least 11 so-called "major sites" bigger than 20,000 tonnes.

A spokeswoman for the regulatory authorities stated that the detentions were for environmental and financial offences and represented a "vital step" in active inquiries. The two individuals have been set free on bail.

Size of the Problem

The tipping ground in the Kidlington area, situated between the river Cherwell and the A34 highway, is believed to contain about 21,000 metric tons of refuse in a heap which is up to 150m (490ft) long and 6m (20ft) in height.

This pile of waste is made up of what appears to be processed household waste, chopped up plastic materials, Styrofoam, tyres and other everyday articles.

It is just one of 517 unauthorized sites throughout England, at a minimum of 11 of which hold in excess of 20,000 tonnes of garbage. They include a 280,000-tonne area in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne areas in Lancashire county and Cornwall county and a 36,000-tonne tip in Kent.

The total figure of such larger sites is expected to be greater, as the environmental agency has earlier stated it does not hold information on tonnage for each illegal tip.

Most such locations are in agricultural settings, frequently concealed, and on land that is zoned as arable ground.

Organized Activity

Police state many are run by organized crime groups, who are generating money by demanding significantly less than legitimate operators to accept and landfill waste.

Businesses have to be liable for disposal fees to use lawful waste facilities, depending on the quantity and category of waste they are trying to discard, and landfill tax is also applied at just over £126 per ton.

Local Frustration

Preparation work to remove the Kidlington area dump started earlier this month following concerns over the potential of blaze and the impact that would have on the nearby highway.

A private waste removal contractor has been given the task to handle the area over the next 12 months at a expense of £9.6m.

An investigations manager for the country's regulatory division commented that the agency would be looking to recoup the clearance expenses under proceeds of crime laws from any party successfully prosecuted at the conclusion of its ongoing investigation.

She further stated that this week's arrests would help "move the probe forward" and permit officials to "follow more leads to determine in detail what happened and who was involved".

"The illegal site at the site was an shocking and deliberate affront on our natural surroundings and officials understand the community's frustration at this horrific crime," she stated.

A cabinet representative praised the detentions, stating: "This unauthorized dumping of garbage at this location is disgraceful and has caused substantial detriment to the natural world and distress to the local community.

"Our administration is dedicated to eliminating this kind of criminality in the UK, by boosting funds to combat waste crime, employing more officers and enacting tougher checks and sanctions for those who flout the regulations."

The apprehensions were carried out on a recent Thursday by agents from a dedicated crime unit and are in addition to an earlier apprehension of a man in his thirties from the Guildford area in the autumn. He was released pending more enquiries.