Record Fine Under Sentencing Guidelines

Southern Water is the latest company to receive a heavy fine for environmental offences, following a pollution incident in Kent in June 2012 where large amounts of sewage were expelled onto the Thanet coastline after pumping station failures. The court heavily criticised Southern Water for complacency, particularly given its history of 160 convictions for pollution offences. The judge imposed a record fine of £2 million on Southern Water for causing a water discharge activity other than authorised by their environmental permit, saying "the message must go out to directors and shareholders that repeated offending of this nature is wholly unacceptable".

Quick action is more important than ever when dealing with a pollution incident and the requirement to maintain good systems. The most common aggravating factors when sentencing are offending over an extended period of time, and a history of non-compliance.