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We also have to put
things right if our customers get things wrong. We
will offer advice to help you understand the
environmental regulations and how you are expected
to keep to them. If you do not keep to them and we
have to consider formal action, we will decide
whether to send you a warning letter or formal
caution, or whether to take legal action. You
should contact the relevant member of staff named
if you do not understand any action that we might
take.
The Environment
Agency's revised Enforcement and Prosecution policy
came into force on 1 November 1998. The revised
policy was developed following extensive
consultation with over 1000 organisations including
trade associations, and green groups.
The policy, which
has the full support of Environment Minister
Michael Meacher, replaces the former enforcement
code of practice. The policy sets out the
following: the four key principles of good
enforcement, proportionality, consistency,
transparency, and targeting; the main factors on
which decisions to prosecute will be based; and
sets out the circumstances in which, subject to
sufficient evidence, the Agency will normally
prosecute. The document also sets out the Agency's
policy towards the prosecution of persons and
companies.
The Agency has
conducted an extensive training programme for 3,500
of its staff to ensure that the revised policy is
applied consistently and effectively across England
and Wales.
Please contact your
local office
if
you have any other doubts or questions about our
enforcement responsibilities. We prefer prevention
to prosecution.
Enforcement and Prosecution Policy Click here to download
[ The document is in Microsoft Word V.6 format
36Kb ] A WELSH TRANSLATION is also available.
[When our customers are wrong]
This guidance:
Functional Guidelines Click here to download
[ The document is in PDF format 313Kb (3 minutes to download)
] A WELSH TRANSLATION (PDF file 343Kb - 3 minutes to download) is also available.