Increased penalties for environmental offences

Environment secretary Steve Barclay has announced unlimited financial penalties for environmental offences.

Companies, for example water companies, who pollute the environment could be hit with unlimited fines.

The previous £250,000 cap on Variable Monetary Penalties (VMPs) has been scrapped and the range of offences they cover has been expanded.

Offences that can now be punished with a VMP now include breach of permit conditions from sites that discharge into rivers and seas - for example from sewage treatment works and permitted storm overflows and illegal discharges to water where there is no permit, such as in the event of agricultural pollution from slurry stores.

It also covers illegal waste offences, such as from illegal scrapyards or unpermitted waste management facilities and permit breaches from manufacturing industries and power stations which contribute to air pollution.

The changes follow a consultation in Spring 2023 and will apply to all firms that have environmental permits, including water and waste companies as well as the agricultural sector and process industries.

Penalties will be proportionate to the size of the company and the nature of the offence, in line with Sentencing Council guidelines.

Environment secretary Steve Barclay said: "Polluters should be in no doubt that if they harm our precious habitats and waterways they will pay.

"By lifting the cap on these sanctions, we are simultaneously toughening our enforcement tools and expanding where regulators can use them. These changes will deliver a proportionate punishment for operators that breach their permits and cause pollution.

"Through the launch of the Water Restoration Fund, the money raised from penalties imposed on water companies will go towards restoring and protecting our waters. This is part of the increased investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement we are delivering through our Plan for Water."

Environment Agency executive director John Leyland said: "These new powers will allow us to deliver more penalties and help us to continue to hold polluters, including water companies, to account.

"The threat of uncapped financial penalties should boost compliance with environmental laws – helping us provide stronger protection to the environment, communities and nature."