MPs reject Criminal Justice Bill amendment on water boss criminal liability for pollution

Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron’s attempt to make water bosses personally criminally liable for failing to meet sewage performance measures failed last week.

Farron, the party’s environment spokesperson, put forward an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, which sought to hold water bosses personally liable for failing to meet a pollution performance commitment level for three consecutive years; or for presiding over an increase in total pollution incidents per 10,000km², or serious pollution incidents, for three consecutive years.

The bid was defeated by 268 votes to 17.