Bill would punish bosses for sewage spills

MPs will seek to make water company bosses criminally liable for sewage spills under plans to amend legislation currently making its way through Parliament this week.

An amendment will be tabled to the Criminal Justice Bill, which is due to return to the Commons on Wednesday, to create new criminal offences for failing to meet specified performance measures to crack down on sewage spills.

Crucially, the amendment will also seek to introduce a new law to make senior managers in water firms personally criminally liable for failing to meet performance measures.

The measures have been put forward by the Liberal Democrats’ spokesman on the environment Tim Farron

(inset), who has been campaigning on the issue of sewage for more than three years.

i understands that Labour is considering backing the amendment, which will pile pressure on the Conservatives to make a decision on whether to accept the changes or look like they are opposing efforts to take tougher action on sewage dumping. Labour has said it will make water bosses criminally liable if it comes to power, as well as promising to strip executives of their bonuses if they fail to meet required standards. Mr Farron said: “This new change in the law would deliver justice for swimmers, wildlife and our natural environment.”