Three men arrested after 15ft high pile of waste was found in Kent
7th February 2025
Three men have been arrested after 30,000 tonnes of household and construction waste, piled 15 feet high, was discovered at the Hoads Wood Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Ashford, Kent.
Environment Agency Enforcement Officers, Kent Police and the Joint Unit for Waste Crime worked closely together to secure the arrests and custody of the suspects.
Two of the individuals, aged 44 and 62, are from the Isle of Sheppey, while the third, aged 41, resides near Sittingbourne.
All three have been interviewed, and evidence obtained during the arrests will support the next stages of the investigation, police confirmed.
The Environment Agency 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, near Ashford.
Major step forward’
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We subsequently secured a court order, banning unauthorised access to the woodland and to successfully stop more waste being dumped, and have since appointed a specialist company to remove the waste and help return the site to its former state.
“Our investigation seeks to establish those responsible for co-ordinating the offending and bring them to court. These arrests mark an important next step in delivering justice for the local community.”
The Environment Agency’s director of operations for East and South East England, Simon Hawkins, added: “The dumping of thousands of tonnes of waste at Hoads Wood in 2023 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 added that the arrest of three individuals is a “major step forward” for the investigation and should bring some comfort to residents whose lives have been upended by this crime.
‘Worst fly-tipping incidents ever seen in Kent’
The Environment Agency confirmed that it will continue to monitor the site for any effect on air or water quality, and will ensure all necessary environmental authorisations are in place while the waste is cleared.
Tim Bamford, regional director of CLA South East which represents farmers, landowners and rural businesses in Kent, said: “We welcome these arrests in connection with one of the worst fly-tipping incidents ever seen in Kent.
“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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