Water company bosses could face jail terms if they block investigations into environmental failings by their companies.
The plans to be announced this morning in the Water Special Measures bill will also see auto-fines for pollution breaches will rise from £300 to to a sun yet to be announced and firms will be told to monitor 100 percent of the 7,000 “emergency” storm overflows
CEOs or “senior leadership” who fail environment, consumer or financial standards won’t get their bonuses subject to consultation.
Civil case burden of proof is set to be lowered, to empower the Environmental Agency to bring charges more easily
The current system, the government argued, is too weak to hold the sector to account for illegality, with only three individuals criminally prosecuted without appeal since privatisation.
Environment secretary Steve Reed said: “I am announcing immediate action to end the disgraceful behaviour of water companies and their bosses.
“The public are furious that record levels of sewage are being pumped into our rivers, lakes and seas. After years of neglect, our waterways are now in an unacceptable state.”
He added: “Water executives will no longer line their own pockets whilst pumping out this filth. If they refuse to comply, they could end up in the dock and face prison time.”
