A protester holds a placard during a water protest (Image: Getty)
A record 81 criminal investigations into environmental breaches by water firms have been launched as part of a crackdown. The number of criminal investigations into illegal sewage spills and other breaches of environmental permits has more than doubled since the General Election, following a 400% surge in spot checks by the Environment Agency at water company premises and rivers in the past year.
James Wallace, chief executive of campaign group River Action, said: “It’s good to see the Government finally taking water pollution seriously.” However, he suggested jail time for water bosses remained highly unlikely. He added: “Criminal investigations are welcome, but regulators need urgent access to courts and, if the upcoming spending review slashes Environment Agency funding, how will it sustain the level of enforcement needed to hold polluters to account – from water companies to factory farms?
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“Tough talk needs backing with real resources.”
There is widespread anger over the polluted and degraded state of the country’s waterways, as well as rising bills, high dividends and executive pay and bonuses at the UK’s privatised water firms.
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Troubled Thames Water faces the highest number of investigations, with 31, while Anglian Water has 22, government figures showed.
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Breaches of environmental permits, such as releasing excessive pollution into rivers or failing to carry out water quality monitoring, are criminal offences.
The Environment Agency says it follows up on every offence it finds, with the most serious cases, such as illegal sewage spills, prompting criminal investigations. Those could lead to executives being jailed for up to five years and water companies being fined hundreds of millions of pounds.
Jamie Cook, chief executive of the Angling Trust, said: “While we welcome this long-overdue focus on inspecting Britain’s failing water industry, it’s meaningful results that our ailing rivers desperately need.
"Court cases must progress with haste and the money raised from fines should go back into supporting the environment through the River Restoration Fund.”
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Under new laws, water company bosses could also face up to two years in prison for obstructing an investigation.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: “Water companies have too often gone unpunished as they pump record levels of sewage into our waterways. No more.
“A record number of criminal investigations have been launched into law-breaking water companies – which could see bosses behind bars.
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“With this Government, water companies who break the law will finally be punished for their disgraceful behaviour so we can clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.”
A spokesman for industry body Water UK said: “It is right that water companies are investigated and held to account when things go wrong.
“Almost 99% of sewage and water treatment works meet their permits and we are focused on getting to 100%.”