FORMER SOUTHERN WATER BOSS FACES CRIMINAL FRAUD CHARGES

Matthew Wright, who led Southern Water from 2011 to 2016, is among four ex-employees of the water firm set to face criminal proceedings. The Environment Agency alleges that between January 2012 and December 2017 the individuals manipulated the operator self-monitoring testing regime by implementing "artificial no-flow events" at wastewater treatment works. The government said they allegedly falsified data to bypass compliance checks and defraud the EA and Ofwat.

Wright previously launched a legal challenge arguing the EA lacked the legal power to issue the summons. On Wednesday the Administrative Court dismissed the claim, confirming the EA's authority to prosecute. Two High Court judges also ruled that restrictions preventing reporting of the legal challenge should be lifted. The operator self-monitoring system, introduced for the water industry in 2009, requires water companies to take samples at their wastewater treatment works and report results to the EA. Deliberately manipulating flows or data to avoid compliance checks constitutes an offence.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The case will be heard at Medway Magistrates' Court. Southern Water will separately face charges of allegedly breaching environmental permits linked to the same conduct. An EA spokesperson said the organisation takes responsibility to protect the environment "very seriously and will always pursue and prosecute those alleged to have committed serious offending against the environment."