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30/07/2003
Polluters deserve harsher penalties, says Environmental Agency
The Environment Agency has warned that higher fines and more prosecutions are failing to stop multi-million pound businesses from committing environmental crimes.
The warning comes as the Environment Agency published 'Spotlight on business environmental performance 2002' – its fifth annual report on good and bad environmental behaviour by businesses in England and Wales.
Repeat offenders, who make up 20% of this year’s list of poor performers, had "failed to learn from previous convictions", the agency said. Despite fines increasing by 36% and prosecutions by 13%, the average fine per prosecution rose to just £8,744 - which the agency believes is not enough to deter major companies.
Significant repeat offenders in 2002 include United Utilities (£327,500), Anglian Water Services Ltd (£285,000), Thames Water Utilities Ltd (£135,000), BP Oil (UK) Ltd (£60,000), TotalFinaElf (£54,000), 3C Waste Ltd (£17,000) and Tesco Stores Ltd (£10,000); all were top offenders in 2001 too.
Many are UK stock market listed companies and claim to be leaders in corporate social responsibility, the agency said.
However, overall there was a 21% cut in serious pollution incidents caused by businesses (down from 1,854 in 2001 to 1,468 in 2002), as well as significant reductions in emissions of key pollutants.
Barbara Young, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said: "Courts are getting tougher on environmental offenders – but fines are still small change for big business. The Environment Agency is leading the world in developing new and inventive ways to help encourage environmental-sound behaviour by big business."
(GMcG)
The warning comes as the Environment Agency published 'Spotlight on business environmental performance 2002' – its fifth annual report on good and bad environmental behaviour by businesses in England and Wales.
Repeat offenders, who make up 20% of this year’s list of poor performers, had "failed to learn from previous convictions", the agency said. Despite fines increasing by 36% and prosecutions by 13%, the average fine per prosecution rose to just £8,744 - which the agency believes is not enough to deter major companies.
Significant repeat offenders in 2002 include United Utilities (£327,500), Anglian Water Services Ltd (£285,000), Thames Water Utilities Ltd (£135,000), BP Oil (UK) Ltd (£60,000), TotalFinaElf (£54,000), 3C Waste Ltd (£17,000) and Tesco Stores Ltd (£10,000); all were top offenders in 2001 too.
Many are UK stock market listed companies and claim to be leaders in corporate social responsibility, the agency said.
However, overall there was a 21% cut in serious pollution incidents caused by businesses (down from 1,854 in 2001 to 1,468 in 2002), as well as significant reductions in emissions of key pollutants.
Barbara Young, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said: "Courts are getting tougher on environmental offenders – but fines are still small change for big business. The Environment Agency is leading the world in developing new and inventive ways to help encourage environmental-sound behaviour by big business."
(GMcG)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
