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 Steve Reed 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.

A Labour spokesperson said: “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 Robbie Moore, 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 Steve Reed 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, Nigel Farage 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.”