Oxford News
Notorious 22,705 ton illegal Kidlington waste dump cleared
The 150-metre-long trail of waste was deposited in a field by the A34 last year, prompting widespread outrage, a criminal investigation and the Environment Agency (EA) declaring it a critical incident in November.
The watchdog has since co-ordinated the clean-up operation, with contractors starting to remove up to 30 lorry loads of rubbish each day in April.
Over five months, teams from Acumen Waste Service removed around 22,705 tonnes of rubbish, with the operation costing an estimated £6 million.
They dug up and shifted waste including tyres, shredded plastic and household waste from an 8,000sq metre area, which is bigger than Wembley Stadium.
Concrete blocks have been placed at the entrance, and the main gate has been securely padlocked to prevent access to the site, officials said.
Oxfordshire County Council described the clearing as “a great relief”. It said: “The news that this huge pile of illegal waste has been removed will come as a great relief to the residents of the Kidlington area and Oxfordshire as a whole.
“Our officers and fire and rescue crews worked closely with the Environment Agency throughout this process, and we would like to thank them for their incredible efforts in cleaning up the site. We believe it was the right decision to fast-track this operation because of the size, scale, and location of the site – next to a river and the A34 – and the dangers and disruption a potential fire there would have created.
“We are also pleased that the government is looking at more effective ways to tackle the organised crime gangs carrying out this illegal waste dumping on an industrial scale.”
The operation comes as part of a wider Government crackdown on illegal tips after a surge in organised waste crime across the country in recent years.
Rogue actors who dump waste illegally or fail to treat it correctly set to face fines of up to £5,000, up from the current maximum of £300. Those responsible for serious offences can already face much tougher sanctions, including prosecution and imprisonment.
Through the EA’s 10 Point Plan on Waste Crime, they will act earlier to address illegal activity and deliver more consistent enforcement action. This includes suspending or revoking permits, making greater use of restriction notices, and naming and shaming illegal waste operators.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said: “Communities deserve to be free from the blight of illegal waste dumping, and this clean-up shows we will bring hope back to local residents.
“After years of waste crime being allowed to fester, we are taking decisive action through our crackdown, and cleaning up sites like Kidlington is just one part.
“By putting more officers on the frontline and using drones to catch offenders in the act, we’re putting the criminal gangs on notice that there is nowhere left to hide.”
The EA shut down the Kidlington site in October 2025, with a decision taken on December 11 to clear the rubbish amid the risk of fire breaking out.
There had also been concerns that pollution from the tip could spill into the nearby River Cherwell, prompting officials to install barriers to protect the waterway.
Water quality sampling was regularly taken at the site but found no evidence of a significant impact on the local environment, officials said.
The EA’s criminal investigation has seen four people arrested, although officials said they will pursue those responsible for the money as its investigation develops.
Philip Duffy, chief executive of the regulator, said: “We are very pleased that the clearance of this site has now been completed, and the EA has made a number of arrests as we pursue those responsible for this abhorrent offending.
“Dumping like this needs to be stopped in the first place.
“To do that we are going upstream, removing criminals and corruption from the waste system; improving the exchange of intelligence between agencies; and revoking the permits of those who do not take adequate care.”
Anyone with information on this crime, which may assist the investigation, is being encouraged to call the 24-hour hotline on 0800 807060 or report it anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or their website.
The data, analysed by Tempcover and sourced from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), covers cars stolen between January 1 and June 30.
A total of 25,050 cars were reported stolen during this period, equating to 138 thefts per day or one every 10 minutes and 24 seconds.
This represents a decline from the 27,831 cars stolen in the first six months of 2025.
Theft patterns also appear to be shifting, with more electric and hybrid vehicles now being targeted.
Top 10 stolen car models in the UK for 2026
According to the Tempcover analysis of DVLA data, the top 10 most stolen car models are:
In total, 1,309 cars were stolen, combining the figures of the top 10.
The Nissan Juke Tekna CVT (petrol) topped the list as the UK’s most stolen vehicle variant in 2026, up from fifth place in 2025.
There were 197 thefts of this model in the first half of the year, a 19% increase from 165 in the same period last year.
This put it 37 thefts ahead of the 2025 leader, the Toyota C-HR Dynamic HEV CVT, which dropped to second place with 160 thefts.
The Nissan Juke model being in the number one spot indicates a trend where criminals are increasingly targeting popular crossovers and zero-emission vehicles over older petrol hatchbacks.
Vehicles equipped with keyless entry and push-to-start ignition are frequently targeted using a relay device
The Ford Fiesta, once a dominant target, continues to fall in the rankings following Ford’s decision to discontinue the model in 2023.
Seven Fiesta variants remain in the national top 20, but thefts of these trims fell by 35.5% year-on-year, from 1,177 to 759.
The Ford Fiesta Titanium Turbo (140 thefts) was the highest-ranked Fiesta variant, placing third, while the Fiesta Zetec slipped from second place in 2025 to fifth in 2026.
EV models also showed up in the top 10, with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Ultimate EV (joint 6th overall with 115 thefts) having the most stolen.
Other EVs were in the top 20, which included the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Premium EV (89 thefts), the Kia Niro 2 EV (88 thefts), and the Kia Niro 4 EV (76 thefts)
How to stop your car from being stolen
Some criminals use relay attacks to unlock cars, so you can combat this by placing the keys inside a metal box or signal-blocking wallet to block the signal.
The RAC also recommends parking in a well-lit public area to reduce the chances.
It adds: “If you need to use a car park, try to find one that’s security patrolled, covered by CCTV, or that is in a secure area.”
Utilising a steering lock or brake lock can also be helpful, and it could be useful to install a tracking device in case a thief gets away with your car.
Jake Lambert, temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover, said: “With pure EVs entering the top 20, security must keep pace with the tech.
“Beyond Faraday pouches and parking nose-in to block wiring access, EV owners must secure their companion app.
Recommended reading:
“If the app holds a digital key, set a PIN or biometric lock – a basic password isn’t enough.
“Lock charging cables to prevent component theft, and keep software updates active.
“But it’s still essential to get the basic habits right: don’t leave the app logged in on unlocked phones, and keep physical keys away from your front door.”
Have car thefts affected your area this year? Let us know in the comments.
The Grade II listed property on St John Street, which is up for sale, offers more than 2,900 square feet of living space spread over four floors.
It features a large family room, a kitchen/breakfast area, large bedrooms, a west-facing courtyard garden, and a separate annexe, and is being sold with “no onward chain.”
Inside, the main house boasts four bedrooms and a reconfigured interior.
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The lower ground floor features a wooden-floored family room, a utility room, and a modern shower room.
On the ground floor, there is a parlour room with a feature fireplace, and a kitchen/breakfast area that opens onto a walled courtyard garden.
The first floor offers two double bedrooms, one with an ensuite bathroom, while the second floor features the principal bedroom, bathroom, and a dressing room.
The annexe, accessible from the courtyard, has its own sitting room, a first-floor vaulted bedroom, and a lower ground floor bathroom.
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St John Street, known for its Georgian-style Grade II listed terraced houses, is situated in the heart of Oxford and was developed around 1830.
The area is close to top-rated state and independent schools, including The Dragon School, Oxford High School for Girls, Cherwell School, St Edward’s School, d’Overbroeck’s College, St Philip & James School, Summerfields School, Christchurch College School, New College School, and Magdalen College School.
The property is also near the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford colleges, and the Oxford railway station.
Thames Valley Police has released a CCTV image as it asks for the public’s help in identifying a man who may have vital information about the incident at Templars Shopping Centre in Cowley.
The reported ‘sexual assault’ happened when a woman in her 20s was inappropriately touched over her clothing at around 3pm on Tuesday, June 30.
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No arrests have been made at this time and the police has asked for anyone with any information to come forward as soon as possible.
Investigating officer PC Emily Rice said: “We are releasing this CCTV image as we believe the individual pictured may have information that could assist our investigation.
“If this is you, or if you recognise the person shown in the image, please contact Thames Valley Police.”
Anyone with information can make a report to the police online or call 101, quoting reference 43260331880.
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Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through its website.
Appeals for public help in finding individuals by the police can relate to suspects, witnesses or others who may have vital information in relation to the incident.
They do not mean the person is to blame nor do they imply guilt.
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