The Environment Agency and Natural England today became the first regulators to be given new civil powers that will give them greater flexibility to enforce environmental law, making the system more efficient and effective for both regulators and businesses.
The range of new civil powers – which have been welcomed by the NFU and EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation – given under the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008, will increase the options available to regulators and include fixed and variable monetary penalties and compliance notices.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2010/100202a.htm