The Environment Agency today urged courts to slap tougher fines on businesses which pollute in a bid to help further reduce the number of serious incidents coming to light.

The agency last year successfully brought 722 cases against firms for environmental offences, one of the largest fines being handed down to a Telford company.

Western Wines, Telford, was ordered to pay £225,000 for flouting packaging waste regulations.

The Midlands and the South West regions had the highest number of prosecutions for environmental offences in 2008.

Dr Paul Leinster, agency chief executive, speaking ahead of the organisation’s annual conference next week, said: “Major pollution incidents continue to reduce, thanks to more effective environmental regulation by the Environment Agency and efforts made by businesses to manage their activities better.

“But we will prosecute businesses and individuals where it is clear that they are not taking sufficient precautions.

“We want to see higher fines for pollution incidents to provide a greater deterrent. There are still an average of two serious pollution incidents a day and this is too many.”

Latest statistics released by the agency today revealed the number of cases of serious pollution in England and Wales dropped 13 per cent, from 827 in 2007 to 723 in 2008, and were down 44 per cent on the 1,854 major incidents recorded in 2001.

Yorkshire, the North East and North West England were the regions with the highest number of serious incidents caused by industry in 2008.

The 722 cases brought against companies and individuals for environmental offences last year resulted in fines and costs of £5.3 million, the average penalty being £10,080.

By Simon Hardy