Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Enforcement definition

What does Enforcement mean? Enforcement is the practical process of making a court order, judgment, decree or arbitral award take effect when the party bound has not complied by the deadline. It involves applying for, and using, court-sanctioned measures to secure compliance or recover sums due, including where permission is required. The term is descriptive rather than a single statutory definition; the available remedies depend on the jurisdiction and the nature of the order. England and Wales: governed mainly by CPR Parts 70–73, including writ/warrant of control, third party debt orders, charging orders (and orders for sale), attachment of earnings, possession and delivery up, appointment...

Environmental Enforcement and Prosecution in England and Wales: Regulators, Powers, Sanctions, Public Interest and Costs

Published by a LexisNexis Corporate Crime expert

Practice notes

Who enforces environmental laws in England and Wales and what remits do they have?

The principal regulators and Enforcement authorities in England and Wales are:

the Environment agency (EA)
Natural Resources Wales (NRW)
Natural England (NE)
local authorities

In Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is the counterpart environmental body; for details of SEPA’s powers to monitor and enforce environmental laws, see Practice Note: Scottish Environment Protection Agency—powers to investigate environmental crimes.

Environment Agency

In England, the EA is the lead enforcement authority. It oversees a broad remit, covering pollution control, waste regulation, water resources management, flood and coastal risk management, fisheries, conservation and navigation. It also manages flood risk from main rivers, reservoirs, estuaries and the sea, and protects wildlife and habitats. Lead local flood authorities (LLFAs) are responsible for flood risk from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses, and take the lead on community recovery. The EA publishes its enforcement and sanctions policy on its website and it is essential reading for lawyers advising on environmental enforcement and prosecutions. Its enforcement approach is outcome-focused...

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

Christian Jowett

30 Park Place, Cardiff and 36 Group, London

Christian’s core specialisms lie in regulatory law and in administrative law.Christian’s environmental crime practice focuses primarily on waste, but extends to the whole calendar of environmental offending. He has a particular interest in subsidiary confiscation and asset recovery under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, which is best represented by R v Morgan [2013] EWCA Crim. 1307, [2014] 1 All E.R. 1208, [2014] Env.L.R. 5, [2013] Lloyd's Rep FC 655, an appeal arising from an environmental prosecution, which concerned the interface between criminal confiscation, environmental regulation, landfill tax and the effect of Article 1, Protocol 1 to the ECHR.A longstanding member of the Wales Working Party of the UK Environmental Law Association, Christian was elected to its National Council in 2017 with special responsibility for Wales, and has for several years co-convened UKELA’s Wales Devolved Group....

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

Popular documents

Using the Judicial College Guidelines to assess general damages in personal injury claims

When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...

Tomlin orders in England and Wales: CPR guidance on drafting, confidentiality, approval, variation, enforcement, limitation, CCA issues, court-specific requirements, sample wording and precedents

This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...

Precedent: Deed of Surrender of Lease with Optional Premium, Settlement and Release, Landlord, Mortgagee and Guarantor Consents, Reimbursement and HM Land Registry Provisions (England and Wales)

Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...

Precedent Statutory Declaration: Standard Wording under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835

I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...