From BBC
The government says it has overseen a large increase in criminal investigations into water companies for alleged breaches of environmental law.
It said in a statement the Environment Agency was looking at dozens of alleged offences which included releasing excessive pollution and not carrying out adequate water quality monitoring.
The government said the regulator had launched 81 criminal probes since last July’s election after hiring 400 more staff for the purpose and that it had initiated proceedings against seven companies.
Water UK, which represents water companies, said in a statement that firms should be investigated and held to account when necessary.
The announcement comes amid public anger over pollution in rivers and seas. The number of pollution incidents recorded by water companies in England is at a 10-year high, according to data released by campaigners last month.
The increase in Environment Agency inspectors is partly due to a recruitment drive from the previous Conservative government.
In February 2024 the Conservatives said they planned to quadruple water inspections and hire an additional 500 staff for inspections and enforcement.
None of the 81 investigations have so far led to convictions, which often take years to work their way through the court systems. But the government said they could lead to water companies being fined hundreds of millions of pounds.
“This Labour Government is cleaning up the foul mess the Tories left behind with a record number of criminal investigations into law-breaking water companies – which could see bosses behind bars,” said Environment Secretary Steve Reed.
The Conservative Party defended its record in response, with a spokesman saying that while it was in government it had begun the process of reforming water and sewage systems and taken action to ban bonuses for bosses of water companies that committed criminal breaches.
“The Labour Government made big promises on water, and
