Water companies that commit environmental offences could face quicker penalties of up to £500,000, under changes being considered by the government.
A consultation has been launched to expand and strengthen the current range of financial penalties available to the Environment Agency in a bid to clamp down on more offences.
Currently, the Environment Agency struggles to impose financial penalties for frequent, minor, and moderate offending – such as some breaches of a licence or a permit.
This is because it needs to prove an offence to the same high legal standard used in criminal courts, making penalties too expensive and time-consuming to pursue for less serious offences.
The changes would lower the standard of proof needed, making it much easier and quicker to hold water companies to account.
The move builds on immediate action the Government has already taken across the water sector – including blocking unfair bonuses for polluting water bosses – and will form part of the longer-term reforms.
“I share the public’s anger at the current state of our water system, and this government is taking decisive action,” said Secretary of State Emma Reynolds.
“I want to give the Environment Agency the teeth it needs to tackle all rule-breaking. With new, automatic and tougher penalties for water companies, there will be swift consequences for offences – including not treating sewage to the required standard and maintenance failures.”
The government will now consult on:
- Allowing the Environment Agency to use a lower civil standard of proof, instead of criminal, for minor to moderate environmental offences.
- Setting a cap at either £350,000 or £500,000 for penalties issued to the civil standard.
- Introducing new automatic penalties – like a speeding ticket – for specific and obvious breaches without the need for lengthy investigations.
- Setting a value of either £10,000, £15,000, or £20,000 for the new automatic penalty.
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