On 20 February 2024 DEFRA, EA, and The Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP reported:

Inspection surge to crack down on water sector pollution
We are clear that we need to get much tougher with unannounced inspections to bring an end to the routine lawbreaking we have seen from water companies, which is what this announcement will deliver.

We are going further to quadruple the Environment Agency’s regulatory capacity – allowing them to carry out 4,000 water company inspections by the end of the next financial year.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay.

Read the full press release on the GOV.UK website.