Four men, including two from Greater Manchester, have been arrested as part of the investigation into a huge illegal waste dump in Wigan. The arrests were confirmed by the Environment Agency (EA) on Tuesday.
Arrests made across the country
Two men, aged 41 and 35, from Wigan, were held alongside a 24-year-old from Liverpool and a 24-year-old from Leeds. They were detained by officers from Greater Manchester Police, Lancashire Police, and West Yorkshire Police on suspicion of environmental, fraud, and money laundering offences.
The arrests follow that of a 58-year-old man from Birmingham in May, also on suspicion of environmental, fraud, and money laundering offences. The Leeds suspect is also being investigated over alleged dumping at Cave's Inn Pits, a site of special scientific interest near Shawell in Leicestershire.
Community impact and official response
Illegal activity was first reported on the privately-owned land on Bolton House Road in 2024, with waste piling up and causing misery for locals. A week-long fire at the site last July forced local schools to close, and residents have continued to report foul smells.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "I have stood on Bolton House Road and seen what local people have had to live with. It is shocking – an ocean of rubbish piled up next to a primary school, and families unable to escape the smell in their own homes. This is not fly tipping. This is organised crime, and it is local communities that are paying the price."
He added: "For too long, this issue has been ignored. But not on my watch. Today's action by the Environment Agency and the police is just the start of our plans. The days of making easy money from waste are over."
Environment Agency and government action
Sue Longstone, Director of Operations for the North at the EA, said: "The illegal dumping at Bolton House Road and Cave's Inn Pits are atrocious attacks on our communities, and we share the public's utter disgust at these horrendous crimes. Our teams have been working relentlessly on these investigations, and our arrests are a vital step in collecting new evidence and progressing it further."
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said: "The appalling dumping of waste at Bolton House Road and Cave's Inn Pits represents a blatant disregard for local communities and the environment. Tackling waste crime is one of my top priorities, and these arrests mark an important step in delivering justice for residents in Wigan and Shawell. This government is taking a zero-tolerance approach to waste crime. Through our Waste Crime Action Plan, we are giving regulators and enforcement agencies the powers and resources they need to break up criminal operations and ensure those responsible are held fully accountable for the damage they have caused. I want to be clear to waste criminals: we are coming for you."
The EA said robust action has already been taken to prevent further dumping, including concrete blocks installed at the entrance by Wigan Council. The council is looking to recruit a specialist contractor, with the government saying it has been given assurances that the funds required to clear the site will be provided.
