After 14 years of Conservative failure resulted in record levels
of illegal sewage dumping in our rivers, lakes and seas, the
Labour Government is today announcing it has spearheaded the
largest increase in criminal action against water companies in
history.
A record 81 criminal investigations into water companies have
been launched in England since the election in July 2024 as
Labour's Environment Secretary cracks down on
criminality in the sector.
Following these investigations, water bosses could be jailed for
five years and water companies fined hundreds of millions of
pounds.
This is a 145% increase compared to under the last Conservative
government, who cut the Environment Agency budget by a half
since 2010, undermining its ability to investigate and prosecute
sewage offenders.
In contrast, to drive forward this surge in action, the
Environment Agency has hired 400 more staff since July 2024 under
Labour, to carry out inspections into water
companies and pollution.
The Conservatives even tried to hide the extent of sewage spills
before the election, with , then the Water Minister and
now a Shadow Environment Minister, telling Environment
Agency officials not to put the key figures on the front page of
an online portal.
Since privatisation, only three individuals have been
successfully criminally prosecuted by the Environment Agency
despite widespread illegality. This failure to hold water
companies to account came at the same time as, under the Tories,
£41 million in bonuses, benefits and incentives were paid to
water company executives from 2020.
And while Reform UK, who did not even mention sewage in their
manifesto, have recently made the unfunded commitment to
nationalise the water industry that could cost taxpayers more
than £100 billion over many years of distracting disruption, this
Labour Government's Plan for Change is delivering tougher
regulation and enforcement now that will clean up our rivers,
lakes and seas.
Last month, new powers delivered by the Government's landmark
Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, mean water executives who
cover up or hide illegal sewage spills can now be locked up for
two years and water companies fined hundreds of millions of
pounds. Seven cases against water companies are going to court
over the next few months.
Labour's Environment Secretary said:
“Not only did the Conservatives oversee record levels of
sewage dumping, they also shamelessly tried to cover it
up.
“And Reform didn't even mention sewage in their manifesto, simply doesn't
care about our beautiful rivers, lakes and seas.
“This Labour Government is cleaning up the foul mess the Tories
left behind with a record number of criminal investigations
into lawbreaking water companies - which could see bosses behind
bars.”
Ends
Notes:
‘Tories tried to hide extent of sewage spills before election'
– The Times
Criminal investigations by water company (Jul 24–Mar 25)
- Anglian Water 22
- Welsh Water 0
- Northumbrian Water 1
- Severn Trent Water 7
- South West Water 4
- Southern Water 5
- Thames Water 31
- United Utilities 7
- Wessex Water 0
- Yorkshire Water 4
- TOTAL 81
