Campaigners slam Labour's £500,000 'pocket change' water announcement

Campaigners have slammed new financial penalties for water companies as "pocket change" for polluting firms. Companies who commit environmental offences could face quicker penalties of up to £500,000, under changes being consulted on by the government. But James Wallace, CEO of River Action, said: "The British public doesn't want another consultation - they want action. Fines of £500,000 are pocket change to billion-pound companies like Thames Water.

"The government must end the failed privatisation model of criminal polluters like Thames Water to stop river pollution. Higher penalties and urgent, wholesale reform are essential to prevent negligent firms polluting our rivers and short changing their customers."

The government has launched a consultation to give the Environment Agency tougher, faster powers in an effort to clamp down on environmental offences.

Under the current system the Environment Agency must prove breaches to the same high level standard used in criminal courts, a process that is slow, costly and allows many minor offences to go unchecked.

Reducing the standard of proof needed to fine water companies will make it easier and quicker to hold water companies accountable for environmental damage, the government said.

Henry Swithinbank, senior policy and advocacy manager at Surfers Against Sewage: "This rehashed announcement is nothing more than the sign of a desperate government cowering from the truth. Anything short of changing the ownership model of our broken water industry is a hollow gesture doomed to fail.

"Boosting resources for regulators is, of course, welcome, since polluters have dodged consequences for far too long. But this remains little more than a sticking plaster on a system that rewards pollution. Shareholders rake in billions, yet the Government talks about fines measured in the hundreds of thousands. It simply doesn't add up, and Keir Starmer's Government knows it. It is time for the Government to stand up to the polluters and big finance and deliver the transformational change needed to save our blue spaces and end pollution for profit."

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said she shares the public's anger at the current state of Britain's water system.

She insisted the government was taking action, adding: "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.

"We are delivering on our Plan for Change by pushing ahead with reforms to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas."

The changes build on existing measures introduced by the Government including blocking unfair bonuses for polluting water bosses and forms part of the Government's longer-term reforms.

Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell said: "We are dedicated to making sure water companies take full responsibility for environmental harm.

These changes would be a welcome boost to our current enforcement powers and allow us to deliver swifter and more appropriate penalties."