Water companies probed in sewage dumping crackdown

A total of 81 criminal investigations into water companies has been launched in England since the general election as part of the government's crackdown on sewage dumping.

- By STAFF REPORTER

The government said the operation, spearheaded by Environment Secretary Steve Reed, amounts to the biggest criminal action against water companies in history.

Severn Trent is not among the worst suspected offenders, but it has accumulated seven criminal investigations since the drive began.

The number of inspections by authorities into sewage pollution has risen by nearly 400 per cent since July last year, the government said.