Police have arrested three men over the dumping of 30,000 tonnes of illegal waste
Three men have been arrested as part of an investigation into the large-scale, illegal tipping of waste at a Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Kent.
Environment Agency Enforcement Officers, Kent Police and the Joint Unit for Waste Crime worked closely together to secure the arrests of the men, who are all based in the county, at the Hoads Wood Site in Ashtead.
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The Environment Agency (EA) began a criminal investigation in 2023 after 30,000 tonnes of household and construction waste, piled 15 feet high in places, was discovered to have been dumped throughout Hoads Wood.
The Environment Agency's director of operations for East and South East England, Simon Hawkins, said the incident was ‘a flagrant act of vandalism – with horrendous consequences for the local community and environment'.
"The Environment Agency and Kent Police have been working tirelessly to uncover the identity of those responsible and bring them to justice and to take the fight to organised criminal networks," Mr Hawkins said.
Arrest
"The arrest of three individuals yesterday is a major step forward for our investigation and should bring some comfort to residents whose lives have been upended by this crime."
According to the EA, 63 illegal waste sites were successfully shut down in 2023/24, bringing the total number in operation to 344 – the lowest total figure on record. It said enforcement officers also prevented nearly 34,000 tonnes of waste from being illegally exported by waste criminals.
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The arrests were welcomed by Tim Bamford, regional director of CLA South East which represents farmers, landowners and rural businesses in Kent.
Mr Bamford said: "Fly-tipping and the dumping of waste on a mass scale have a huge impact on the environment, farming and our natural landscapes, and the CLA has great sympathy with Hoads Wood. This precious site needs to be cleaned up as quickly as possible, with those responsible facing the full force of the law."
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