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1,000 signatures reached
To: Andrew Muir, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Increase fines for water polluters
Increase fines for polluters and implement stronger deterrents to stop repeat offenders.
Why is this important?
We are facing an ever increasing crisis over pollution. Lough Neagh, which supplies 40% of our drinking water, is facing catastrophe. Fish from the Lough have been found to have toxins for the first time. Big agricultural businesses, such as Moy Park, regularly breach pollution rules in order to make record profits. Fish kills in our rivers are becoming more and more common.
The evidence is clear: the current fines and sentencing system is not tough enough to deter anyone from polluting our loughs and rivers. Since 2020, only 16% of serious water polluters were fined - with more than eight in 10 not paying any fine at all.
We need stronger fines and deterrents now. We, the undersigned, call on Minister Andrew Muir to implement the following:
The evidence is clear: the current fines and sentencing system is not tough enough to deter anyone from polluting our loughs and rivers. Since 2020, only 16% of serious water polluters were fined - with more than eight in 10 not paying any fine at all.
We need stronger fines and deterrents now. We, the undersigned, call on Minister Andrew Muir to implement the following:
- Increased maximum penalties on summary conviction for causing pollution of a waterway or groundwater up to £50,000.
- Unlimited fines for those pollution offences that are heard at Crown Court.
- A more flexible enforcement system with increased powers to introduce fixed and variable penalties to act as an immediate deterrent for minor to moderate breaches of legislation.