The former chief executive of Southern Water and three other former company employees have been charged in connection with an alleged scheme to manipulate water quality testing results. Matthew Wright, Philip Barker, Clive Massey, and Mark Gregory are accused of conspiring to defraud the Environment Agency and the water regulator Ofwat during a period spanning 2012 to 2017. The charges relate to allegations that the four men deliberately arranged for wastewater to be removed from treatment facilities via tanker trucks to create artificial “no flow” conditions during testing periods.
According to prosecutors, these actions were designed to obscure pollution and deceive regulatory authorities responsible for environmental protection. The scheme allegedly helped Southern Water avoid financial penalties estimated at approximately £45 million. Wright’s legal representatives have stated he denies all allegations and has cooperated fully with the Environment Agency’s investigation. The other three defendants did not appear at a recent court hearing or provide legal representation.
The charges follow a legal challenge brought by Wright at the High Court, where he argued the Environment Agency lacked authority to issue the summons. Two senior judges dismissed his claim on Wednesday, with Lord Justice Popplewell characterizing the allegations as involving “very serious allegations of criminal misconduct” consisting of “carefully planned and extensive fraud and dishonesty at a high level.” The judgment noted that the law permits the Environment Agency to prosecute various offences when such action facilitates or is incidental to its regulatory functions.
Southern Water acknowledged the charges concern historical failures uncovered during an internal investigation conducted in 2017. The company stated it reported these matters to regulators upon discovery and characterized itself as fundamentally transformed from a decade prior. The utility company is also facing separate charges related to dozens of environmental permit violations at multiple wastewater treatment facilities. Three additional former employees have been separately charged with environmental permit violations. Court proceedings were scheduled for later in the month at Medway Magistrates’ Court.
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