바카라 사이트楶olluters must pay바카라 사이트� says Environment Secretary, as unlimited penalties unveiled
New laws will scrap the cap on civil penalties and significantly broaden their scope to target a much wider range of environmental offences
Those that pollute the environment will face unlimited penalties under new legislation announced today by the government (Wednesday 12 July).
The current limit of 拢250,000 on variable monetary penalties that the Environment Agency and Natural England can impose directly on operators will be lifted, following a which received widespread public support.
This will offer regulators a quicker method of enforcement than lengthy and costly criminal prosecutions 바카라 사이트� although the most serious cases will continue to be taken through criminal proceedings.
New powers will also enable these higher penalties to be levied as a civil sanction for offences under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016, the regime under which the majority of Environment Agency investigations take place. This聽will ensure regulators have the right tools to drive compliance across a range of sectors, strengthening enforcement and holding all who hold environmental permits 바카라 사이트� from energy and water companies to waste operators and incinerators 바카라 사이트� to greater account.
Environment Secretary Th茅r猫se Coffey said:
바카라 사이트淧olluters must always pay. We are scrapping the cap on civil penalties and significantly broadening their scope to target a much wider range of offences 바카라 사이트� from breaches of storm overflow permits to the reckless disposal of hazardous waste.
바카라 사이트淚t builds on action being taken right across government to stand up for our environment 바카라 사이트� tackling pollution, protecting delicate ecosystems and enhancing nature.바카라 사이트�
Minister for Environmental Quality and Resilience Rebecca Pow said:聽
바카라 사이트淏y lifting the cap on these sanctions, we are simultaneously toughening our enforcement tools and expanding where regulators can use them. This will deliver a proportionate punishment for operators that breach their permits and harm our rivers, seas and precious habitats.
바카라 사이트淭his was one of the measures set out in our Plan for Water earlier this year. I am proud to say this government has acted swiftly so that this will now be enshrined in law, further strengthening the power of regulators to hold polluters to account.바카라 사이트�
Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell said:
바카라 사이트淲e regularly prosecute companies and individuals through criminal proceedings, but these new powers will allow us to deliver penalties that are quicker and easier to enforce, even though the most serious cases will continue to go to court.
바카라 사이트淭hat should be an important deterrent 바카라 사이트� boosting compliance across a range of sectors, driving down pollution and safeguarding the ecology and prosperity of our natural world.바카라 사이트�
There are clear provisions in the Sentencing Council guidelines that will ensure the level of penalties levied are proportionate to the degree of environmental harm and culpability. These include safeguards to ensure the operator바카라 사이트檚 ability to pay, the size of the operator, and the degree of responsibility and harm, amongst others 바카라 사이트� all of which are taken into account when imposing a penalty.
The amendments to legislation will be approved by both Houses of Parliament in due course before coming into force.
As set out in the government바카라 사이트檚 Plan for Water, future environmental fines and penalties from water companies will be re-invested into the government바카라 사이트檚 new Water Restoration Fund. This fund will deliver on-the-ground improvements to water quality, and support local groups and community-led schemes which help to protect our waterways. River catchment groups 바카라 사이트� bringing together local NGOs, councils, government agencies and farmers and working together in catchments across the country 바카라 사이트� will benefit from this funding.