Petition · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Introduce prison sentences for water company executives guilty of sewage spills

Open for signatures 26 signatures

What the petition asks

We call on the Government to pass a law which introduces prison sentences for water company directors and senior executives whose companies are guilty of illegally discharging sewage into bodies of water.
The Government should legislate to make water company directors and senior executives personally criminally liable for serious or repeated illegal sewage spills. Those found to have knowingly, recklessly or through gross negligence allowed unlawful discharges should face prison sentences where environmental laws have been repeatedly breached.

Timeline

29 Jul 2026 Petition opened for signatures

Key facts

Signatures 26
Status Open for signatures
Department Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened 29 Jul 2026

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 30 Jul 2026.