Pollution incident attracts £20 million fine


Thames Water has been handed down an unprecedented fine of more than £20 million (including costs) for repeated illegal discharges of sewage into several sites along the River Thames between 2012 and 2014. 


The Environment Agency said it was the biggest freshwater pollution case in its 20-year history and the judge imposing the sentence said it was a record-breaking fine for record-breaking offending. 


Judge Francis Sheridan said the scale of the problem was such that it must have been known up the chain of command. 


He added: “It should not be cheaper to offend than to take appropriate precautions.”


https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thames-water-ordered-to-pay-record-20-million-for-river-pollution