The study indicated that over five hundred companies and individuals were prosecuted in Wales and England last year for serious pollution offenses. This minimal increase does not reflect the long term damage done to the environment through criminal neglect Harman said. According to statistics published by the Economist, the United Kingdom ranks as one of the top three generators of agricultural, industrial and nuclear waste in Europe. The Environment Agency report shows that reductions in these emissions of 346,000 tons and 9,000 tones respectively, were achieved by companies in England and Wales last year. Despite these reductions Environment Agency spokesperson Kathryn Corcoran today reiterated the importance of appropriate penalties to deter avoidable pollution and steer companies and businesses towards optimum environmental management.
Companies often look for the cheapest way out.
The Environment Agency of England and Wales currently spends over a third of its annual budget on prevention and control of pollution. This includes prosecution costs of those causing environmental damage. Last year for the first time, a company director was disqualified for an environmental offense, whilst seven more were held personally responsible for pollution, convicted and fined by the courts. Sir John Harman, Chair of the Environment Agency has welcomed these convictions. If this is what it takes to get the health of the public and the environment taken seriously in the Boardroom, then I hope the courts will exercise that sanction more often in future.