Who was sanctioned, and for what?

Between 2019 and 2021, untreated sewage, sewage residues, diesel from a generator and waste entered a stream and the sea around Faversham and Whitstable; the circumstances of one incident were not reported to the Environment Agency, around 70 fish died, and bathing warnings were in place at beaches in Tankerton and Herne Bay for almost a week. The court imposed a fine of 2,416,666.67 GBP, 69,894.04 GBP in costs and a 190 GBP victim surcharge; it was the company's second conviction that year (announcement of 22 September 2026, exact date of judgment not stated). According to the annual accounts filed with the UK companies register for financial year 2026, the company had around 3,109 employees.

Authority / court

Bromley Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Regulations 12(1)(b) und 38(1)(a) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Energy and utilities

Employees

1,000 to 9,999

Repeat case

yes

Published

22 Sep 2026

Original amount 2,486,750.71 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 22 Sep 2026.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 3 · Direct link

Following a partial pipe collapse at the Fleetwood wastewater treatment works, untreated sewage flowed from three pumping stations into the Irish Sea for over 35 hours in June 2023; seven bathing waters were affected and shellfish beds were closed. The water company pleaded guilty to five offences and must pay a fine of 900,000 GBP, 62,225 GBP in costs and a 2,000 GBP victim surcharge. According to the annual accounts filed with the UK companies register for financial year 2026, the company had around 6,678 full-time equivalent employees.

Authority / court

Preston Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Regulation 38(2) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Energy and utilities

Employees

1,000 to 9,999

Culpability

negligent

Mitigating circumstances

Around 38 million GBP invested in response and repair, and a voluntary payment of 250,000 GBP to Blackpool Council.

Published

8 Sep 2026

Original amount 964,225 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 8 Sep 2026.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 3 · Direct link

At the Ladden Garden Village construction site in Yate, a subcontractor washed silt from the site drainage into two brooks over six days in July 2022. The Environment Agency accepted an Enforcement Undertaking: BDW is paying 201,500 GBP to three environmental and charitable projects, bears the investigation costs and had already invested over 180,000 GBP in remediation, training and improved surface water management. According to the annual accounts filed with the UK companies register for financial year 2025, the company had around 5,217 employees.

Authority / court

Environment Agency

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Environmental Civil Sanctions (England) Order 2010 (Enforcement Undertaking)

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Construction and real estate

Employees

1,000 to 9,999

Mitigating circumstances

Acceptance of responsibility, remediation, training of employees and application for a discharge permit.

Published

3 Sep 2026

Original amount 201,500 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 3 Sep 2026.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 3 · Direct link

Canterbury Crown Court fined Southern Water £7,127,083 for 13 breaches of the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016, plus £149,000 in prosecution costs and a £181 victim surcharge. Between 2019 and 2021, failed pumps and poorly maintained equipment at the Margate and Broadstairs pumping stations led to several discharges of untreated sewage into the sea, some of which were reported only the next day or weeks later; beaches had to be closed. The company also admitted 35 further unlawful discharges from the same period.

Authority / court

Canterbury Crown Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Reg. 12(1)(b) und 38(1)(a) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Energy and utilities

Repeat case

yes

Published

17 Jul 2026

Original amount 7,127,083 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 17 Jul 2026.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

Scotland's environmental regulator SEPA imposed two civil penalties of £35,000 each (£70,000 in total) on salmon processor Scottish Sea Farms. Two ice plants at the Gremista site in Lerwick (Shetland) contained fluorinated greenhouse gases above the threshold of 500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent but had no working leak detection system.

Authority / court

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulations 2015; Verordnung (EU) Nr. 517/2014

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Food and agriculture

Mitigating circumstances

The company has since brought the equipment into compliance.

Published

27 May 2026

Original amount 70,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 27 May 2026.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

From 2022 to 2025, the company exported containers of supposedly clean plastic that was in fact contaminated with electronic waste such as cables and circuit boards; in some cases, the waste was hidden at the back of the container, and further containers were shipped despite prohibition notices from August 2024. The company pleaded guilty and was fined 80,000 GBP; in addition, it was ordered to pay 45,000 GBP in costs and a 2,000 GBP surcharge. According to the annual accounts filed with the UK companies register for financial year 2025, the company had around 19 employees.

Authority / court

Preston Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Waste and hazardous substances

Legal basis

Vorschriften zur grenzüberschreitenden Abfallverbringung (Notifizierung und Zustimmung); Verstoß gegen Untersagungsverfügungen

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Other

Employees

Under 50

Culpability

intentional

Repeat case

yes

Mitigating circumstances

Guilty plea.

Published

2 Apr 2026

Original amount 80,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 24 Mar 2026.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 5 · Direct link

Between October 2018 and August 2019, untreated sewage entered a brook in Pools Brook Country Park on three occasions – due to a burst rising main, a blockage caused by wet wipes and a failing pipe coupling; during the first incident, fish died in the park lake. Yorkshire Water had already pleaded guilty in January 2024 and had not attended any of the interviews; the court imposed a fine of 733,333 GBP plus costs. According to the annual accounts filed with the UK companies register for financial year 2026, the company had around 4,481 employees.

Authority / court

Derby Crown Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Regulations 12(1)(b) und 38(1)(a) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Energy and utilities

Employees

1,000 to 9,999

Culpability

negligent

Repeat case

yes

Published

23 Feb 2026

Original amount 733,333 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 23 Feb 2026.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 3 · Direct link

The Environment Agency accepted an enforcement undertaking from Severn Trent Water under which the company pays £1,500,000 to Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, covers the agency's costs and commits to remedial action. It concerns two unauthorised sewage discharges from the Blackminster treatment works near Evesham into Broadway Brook on 12 June and 20 August 2022 and a breach of permit conditions.

Authority / court

Environment Agency

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Reg. 38(1) und 38(2) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010/2016

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Energy and utilities

Original amount 1,500,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 12 Feb 2026.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

The Environment Agency accepted an enforcement undertaking from Perenco UK: the company pays £401,447 to five local organisations (£60,000, £30,000, £200,547, £10,000 and £100,900), covers the agency's costs and commits to remedial measures. The underlying offence was a breach of a permit condition: an inadequately maintained oil pipe at the Wytch Farm site had corroded, and on 23 March 2023 crude oil or reservoir fluid escaped into Ower Bay in Poole Harbour. According to the agency, the overall package amounts to around £6.1m, including response and clean-up costs and £620,000 paid to affected parties.

Authority / court

Environment Agency

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Reg. 38(2) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010/2016; Environmental Civil Sanctions (England) Order 2010

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Energy and utilities

Mitigating circumstances

Substantial costs already incurred for response and clean-up, and measures taken to prevent a recurrence (the agency's reasons for accepting the offer).

Published

13 Mar 2026

Original amount 401,447 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 23 Dec 2025.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

In July 2021, a blockage in the foul sewer at the Moodiesburn plant (collagen casings for sausages) caused untreated industrial wastewater to back up into the surface water system, polluting the Bothlin Burn with ammonia and organic load. The company pleaded guilty on 11 November 2025; on 24 March 2026, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) reported a fine of 48,000 GBP plus a 3,600 GBP victim surcharge. According to the annual accounts filed with the UK companies register for financial year 2024, the company had around 316 employees.

Authority / court

Airdrie Sheriff Court (Ermittlungen: SEPA, Anklage: Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Regulations 4 und 44(1)(a) Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011; Section 20(3)(a) Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Food and agriculture

Employees

250 to 999

Published

24 Mar 2026

Original amount 51,600 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 11 Nov 2025.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 3 · Direct link

Following a loss of steam in April 2019, the ethylene plant in Fife flared for almost a week; the smoke significantly exceeded permit limits, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) received over 900 complaints. Existing procedures and emergency plans should have prevented the incident but were not adequately followed. The company pleaded guilty and was fined 176,000 GBP.

Authority / court

Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court (Ermittlungen: Scottish Environment Protection Agency, SEPA)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Regulation 67(1)(b) Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012; Section 2 Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Employees

10,000 or more

Culpability

negligent

Published

28 Oct 2025

Original amount 176,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 28 Oct 2025.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

In March 2024, cattle slurry ran from the dairy farm's lagoons into a stream, seriously damaging it over more than 2 km, with effects up to 4.5 km downstream. The court imposed a fine of 6,000 GBP (reduced from 9,000 GBP because of an early guilty plea) and 10,158.50 GBP in costs; the Environment Agency described the incident as avoidable. The company is a micro-enterprise with fewer than 10 employees.

Authority / court

Taunton Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Regulations 12(1)(b) und 38(1)(a) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Food and agriculture

Employees

Under 50

Culpability

negligent

Mitigating circumstances

Early guilty plea (fine reduced from 9,000 to 6,000 GBP).

Published

13 Oct 2025

Original amount 16,158.5 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 8 Oct 2025.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 3 · Direct link

The Environment Agency accepted an enforcement undertaking from Imerys Minerals: the company pays £430,000 to Westcountry Rivers Trust and covers the agency's costs. Between September 2021 and July 2023, china clay effluent had been discharged without a permit at six sites in Cornwall.

Authority / court

Environment Agency

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Reg. 38(1) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010/2016

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Other

Original amount 430,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 9 Sep 2025.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

Acting as a waste broker, the Sheffield company arranged in 2019/2020 for more than 1,400 tonnes of waste to be transported to an illegally operated site in Lincolnshire without continuously checking the operator's authorisations. The court imposed a fine of 80,000 GBP and a confiscation order of 37,587.13 GBP (117,587.13 GBP in total) plus 50,000 GBP in costs. According to its 2024 annual accounts, the company had an average of 104 employees.

Authority / court

Nottingham Crown Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Waste and hazardous substances

Legal basis

Section 34(1)(a) und 34(6) Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Duty of Care)

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Transport, logistics and shipping

Employees

50 to 249

Culpability

negligent

Mitigating circumstances

The court accepted that the company did not know the site was operating illegally; first prosecution in over 40 years, new management team

Published

13 Aug 2025

Original amount 117,587.13 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 8 Aug 2025.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 2 · Direct link

After an inlet valve failed at Ingbirchworth water treatment works, around one million litres of chlorinated water a day flowed via the emergency overflow into Ingbirchworth Dike from November 2017; more than 430 dead fish were found on a single day. The capacity alarm was set above the overflow level; fine of 865,000 GBP plus 34,979.79 GBP in costs. According to its annual accounts (to March 2026), the utility employed an average of 4,481 people.

Authority / court

Sheffield Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Regulation 12(1)(b) und 38(1)(a) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Energy and utilities

Employees

1,000 to 9,999

Culpability

negligent

Repeat case

yes

Published

31 Jul 2025

Original amount 865,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 30 Jul 2025.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 2 · Direct link

Derby Crown Court imposed three fines of £297,500 each (£892,500 in total) and £65,687.54 in costs on the operator of East Midlands Airport. In January and February 2022, surface water drainage containing residues of aircraft and runway de-icing fluid exceeded the permitted BOD limit of 15 mg/l on three occasions. The court heard that there had already been 13 permit breaches and ten written warnings since 2006.

Authority / court

Derby Crown Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Reg. 38(2) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Transport, logistics and shipping

Repeat case

yes

Mitigating circumstances

Change of management in 2022 and active engagement with the Environment Agency (as put forward by the company).

Published

28 Jul 2025

Original amount 892,500 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 28 Jul 2025.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

The backup pump at Fossbridge pumping station in York was out of action for five months, although the defect had repeatedly been noted during maintenance; as a result, sewage flowed into Foss Dyke in March 2018. For the discharge and the breach of the maintenance permit condition, the court imposed 350,000 GBP plus 14,028.65 GBP in costs. According to its annual accounts (to March 2026), the utility employed an average of 4,481 people (previous year 3,876).

Authority / court

York Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Regulation 12(1)(b), 38(1)(a) und 38(2) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Energy and utilities

Employees

1,000 to 9,999

Published

30 May 2025

Original amount 350,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 30 May 2025.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 2 · Direct link

After a wooden pallet collapsed in 2021, sodium hypochlorite (bleach) ran into a manhole that the specialist packing company believed led to the foul sewer; in fact it discharged into the River Holme, and more than 800 fish died. Fine of 2,666.67 GBP after an early guilty plea, 8,973.67 GBP in total including costs and victim surcharge. According to its annual accounts, the business had an average of 25 employees.

Authority / court

Kirklees Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Waste and hazardous substances

Legal basis

Regulation 12(1)(b) und 38(1)(a) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Other

Employees

Under 50

Culpability

negligent

Mitigating circumstances

Early guilty plea, full cooperation, clean-up and new storage and handling procedures

Published

24 Jan 2025

Original amount 2,666.67 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 9 Jan 2025.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 2 · Direct link

Because of a blockage caused by unflushable items, a pumping station in Ormesby St Margaret discharged untreated sewage in 2018 into Spring Dyke, which flows into a drinking water supply and nature conservation area; thousands of fish died. The court found the company negligent and imposed 300,000 GBP plus 21,896.56 GBP in costs. According to its 2025 annual report, the utility employed an average of 5,874 full-time equivalents.

Authority / court

Basildon Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Regulation 12(1)(b) und 38(1)(a) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Energy and utilities

Employees

1,000 to 9,999

Culpability

negligent

Repeat case

yes

Published

6 Dec 2024

Original amount 300,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 5 Dec 2024.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 3 · Direct link

At Bowerhill Lodge pumping station (Melksham), technical failures in 2018 caused discharges into Clackers Brook lasting more than 54 hours, killing more than 2,100 fish; in addition, a rising main at Wick St Lawrence that was known to be critical but was not monitored burst. The court found the company negligent; the utility had also failed to report discharges immediately. It imposed 500,000 GBP plus 60,000 GBP in costs. According to its annual accounts (to June 2025), the utility employed an average of 2,890 people.

Authority / court

Swindon Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Regulation 12(1)(b), 38(1)(a) und 38(2) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Energy and utilities

Employees

1,000 to 9,999

Culpability

negligent

Published

11 Nov 2024

Original amount 500,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 11 Nov 2024.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 3 · Direct link