In a bid to combat water pollution in the UK, the government is debating a new bill which could see water bosses sent to prison. All the details, later.
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00:00Should there be harsher punishments for water company executives that spill sewage into
00:06the UK's lakes, rivers and the sea? That's what the government is proposing with a new
00:09law potentially meaning water bosses could face up to two years in prison and be blocked
00:14from receiving bonuses. Environment Secretary Steve Reid said the measures would end the
00:19disgraceful behaviour of water companies and their bosses. But some anti-pollution campaigners
00:23have said the legislation doesn't go far enough to create meaningful change. The proposed
00:28Water Special Measures Bill could see the burden of proof lowered so the Environment
00:32Agency can bring forward criminal charges against those believed to be responsible for
00:37polluting the UK's waterways. If standards of environmental protection aren't met, regulators
00:42would be able to stop bonus payments and bosses would be made criminally liable if they don't
00:47cooperate with investigations. However, clean water campaigners said the bill amounts to
00:52window dressing. Charles Watson of River Action accused the government of not fixing anything
00:57because it's the system that is broken, saying that despite the threat of jail time, he doesn't
01:01think anyone will be going to prison.