Panorama: Lib Dems call for a criminal investigation on the sewage cover up

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Following a BBC Panorama investigation that revealed water companies can make sewage pollution disappear from official statistics, there are calls for a criminal investigation into possible breach of law.

One water firm United Utilities may have downgraded various pollution incidents last year, the investigation has shown. 

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a criminal investigation into the water companies to see whether any laws have been broken. There are also questions around why the water companies reporting incidents rather than the Environmental Agency doing the testing.

Commenting, the Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Tim Farron MP said:

“These revelations are scandalous and could be a breach of the law. It's clear now that only a criminal investigation can punish United Utilities. Both the regulator and government have been proven useless.

“Once again this Government is turning a blind eye as water companies pollute British rivers and even deny doing so. 

“The Liberal Democrats are calling for a criminal investigation to get to the bottom of this and bring necessary justice if laws are broken. Enough is enough, polluting companies need to be held to account.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

The Panorama investigation can be found here