Defra reviews environment protection measures
Environment minister Elliot Morley has announced a major review of how measures to protect the environment are enforced.
He said current arrangements do not do enough to change environmentally damaging behaviour and fail to place the burden of repairing damage on offenders.
“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,” he said.
“The review on enforcement in environmental regulation will consolidate the evidence needed to support continued improvement in responding effectively to environmental offences.”
Friends of the Earth director Tony Juniper welcomed the review but warned that real change depended on increasing the capacity of enforcement agencies such as the Environment Agency.
Robust company law must also be brought into to ensure firms take their social and environmental responsibilities seriously, he said.
