Criminal proceedings have not been initiated against anyone over the Kidlington waste accumulation despite several recent detentions, as inquiries continue.

Four men were detained between November 2025 and February this year concerning unlawful waste disposal at an 8,000 square metre collection of refuse located close to the A34 and River Cherwell.

The Environment Agency stated that four men held in connection with this site, both this year and last year, remain part of their criminal investigation into those responsible for illegally depositing this waste at Kidlington.

All four suspects have been released on bail while further investigations are carried out.

The agency has begun clearance operations citing fire safety concerns and has justified its investigative methods.

This follows an Oxfordshire County Council review committee meeting on Wednesday, April 22, where members expressed concerns about communication failures and slow responses after a site visit in July 2025, as unauthorised lorry dumping persisted until September in what seems to be an organised criminal operation.

Committee members discussed whether local authorities had adequate powers to halt continued tipping at the location.

Councillor Liam Walker for Hanborough & Hailey (Oxfordshire Alliance and Conservative Party Member) acknowledged that they failed to take action to prevent the trucks from entering.

Robin Rogers, director of economy and place at Oxfordshire County Council, replied that the majority of waste had been deposited before the site came to light, and the Environment Agency assumed primary responsibility for criminal matters after the July inspection.

The Environment Agency did not appear before the review committee, citing the pre-election period.

A representative for the agency stated that suggestions they could have responded more quickly are inaccurate.

They detailed the timeline beginning in early July 2025, when the Environment Agency launched a criminal investigation and officers carried out subsequent visits.

The agency issued a legal notice to the landowner on July 31, demanding all site activities cease and waste be removed.

After discovering further dumping on September 10, Environment Agency officers promptly returned to begin proceedings for a restriction order to seal the site and prevent additional illegal disposal.

A court order is required to close private land.

This was granted on October 23, and the Environment Agency reports no evidence of any waste being deposited at the site since October 1.

The Environment Agency investigation remains ongoing, with a spokesperson saying that anyone with information is asked to contact their 24-hour incident hotline, 0800 807060, or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111.

All information will be treated in confidence.