Policy Threads

Environmental Civil Sanctions

DEFRA's initiative to strengthen the Environment Agency's enforcement powers through civil sanctions rather than criminal prosecution for environmental breaches, particularly illegal waste dumping and pollution. The Environmental Civil Sanctions (England) (Amendment) Order 2023 expands the Agency's ability to issue faster and more cost-effective penalties without requiring criminal court proceedings. Current status involves implementation and refinement of civil enforcement mechanisms.

28 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of which events and actions depicted in Channel 4’s Dirty Business took place; and what plans they have to investigate whether the Enviro

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of which events and actions depicted in Channel 4’s Dirty Business took place; and what plans they have to investigate whether the Environment Agency and its executives provided misleading inf

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

20 Oct 2022 | Written evidence linked

We believe the Electoral Commission should be sensitive to the role of volunteers in campaigns and the potential for inadvertent reporting errors to occur. We welcome the Electoral Commission’s proposed changes to the Political Finance Online platform to support individuals to input their financial returns accurately. We agree with witnesses to our inquiry that the current maximum sanction of £20,000 for breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 may not act as an e...

We believe the Electoral Commission should be sensitive to the role of volunteers in campaigns and the potential for inadvertent reporting errors to occur. We welcome the Electoral Commission’s proposed changes to the Political Finance Online platform to support individuals …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

20 Oct 2022 | Written evidence linked

We agree with the House of Lords Democracy and Digital Technologies Committee, and the Committee on Standards in Public Life, that the maximum fine the Electoral Commission can impose for breaches of Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 should be increased to £500,000 or 4% of total campaign spend, whichever is higher. Equally, we believe that regulated individuals, parties, and campaigners should have the opportunity to amend minor, administrative reporting errors before civ...

We agree with the House of Lords Democracy and Digital Technologies Committee, and the Committee on Standards in Public Life, that the maximum fine the Electoral Commission can impose for breaches of Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 should …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK