Environmental enforcement under review

A major review of how measures to protect the environment are enforced was announced today by Environment Minister Elliot Morley.

The review will gather evidence to identify any obstacles in the way of efforts to cut serious environmental offences and will consider what communities, businesses and individuals can do to help make enforcement more effective.

Defra will lead the new review, working closely with other government departments, the Environment Agency and local authorities.

Speaking in Sunderland at a conference on environmental justice, Elliot Morley said the government wanted to work with local people to encourage environment-friendly behaviour and to crack down on those who flout environmental law:

"We need to make sure we have the most effective means of enforcement, simpler and fairer for responsible businesses and much tougher on serious and wilful environmental damage.

"I have listened to concerns that the current enforcement arrangements do not do enough to change environmentally damaging behaviour, fail to place the burden of repairing damage on offenders, and all too often do not result in effective sanctions.

"Extra funding and powers like the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act have strengthened the arm of local authorities and enforcement agencies, and we all want our green spaces, streets and countryside protected against pollution, fly-tipping, fly-posting, graffiti, litter and noise.

"The review on enforcement in environmental regulation will consolidate the evidence needed to support continued improvement in responding effectively to environmental offences. "