Story Highlight
– Enforcement actions in British industries dropped significantly in 2025.
– Government urged regulators to ease actions for businesses.
– Environmental agency and HSE enforcement continued long-term decline.
– Employment tribunal success rates fell; cases backlog increased.
– Green Party calls for strengthened regulations and accountability.
Full Story
A recent analysis has raised significant concerns regarding the enforcement of workplace regulations and environmental protections in the UK, revealing a marked decline in regulatory actions throughout 2025. This deterioration is characterised as “catastrophic” by advocates and highlights an alarming trend that may leave workers and the environment vulnerable.
The review, commissioned by the policy think tank Good Jobs First, meticulously surveyed regulatory activities across multiple sectors in British industry. The findings underscore a substantial drop in enforcement measures aimed at holding employers accountable for breaches related to workplace safety, consumer rights, and financial and environmental regulations.
This situation has unfolded following a governmental initiative aimed at encouraging economic growth, which involved directives from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s administration to regulatory bodies to relax enforcement actions against businesses. In a bid to stimulate recovery amid economic pressures, letters were dispatched to 17 regulatory agencies advising them to ease constraints on businesses, particularly in pivotal sectors.
In the wake of these directives, the Environmental Agency’s enforcement actions have continued their long-term decline, while the Financial Conduct Authority reported a nearly £600 million reduction in penalties imposed on financial institutions compared to the previous year. Additionally, the report indicated a troubling drop in successful outcomes for employment tribunal cases, with an increase in the backlog of cases awaiting hearing – some not scheduled to be addressed until 2027 or 2028.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has also seen a reduction in enforcement levels, adding to the concerns expressed by those monitoring these sectors. Green Party MP Sian Berry reacted strongly to the report, stating, “This report lays bare a catastrophic weakening of the rules that protect people and the planet.” Berry accused the government of enabling detrimental practices by polluters, asserting, “When environmental enforcement collapses, polluters get a green light to poison our rivers, trash our air, and destroy habitats with impunity.”
Berry further alleged that the diminishing regulation results from deliberate political decisions, labelling it a failure on the part of the Labour government to combat the influence of corporate entities. The Green Party has advocated for increased funding for regulatory bodies, a restoration of strict enforcement practices, and calls for concerted action against polluters and abusive employers.
In contrast, two government agencies, the Competition and Markets Authority and Ofwat, have noted an increase in their enforcement actions this year, with the former conducting over two dozen penalties and the latter taking significant legal action against private water companies.
James Harrison, director of the Institute of Employment Rights, expressed grave concerns about the impact of these trends. He pointed to the drop in successful employment tribunal outcomes as particularly distressing, highlighting, “[This] is deeply concerning. The fall in successful employment tribunal cases is particularly alarming, as it underlines just how difficult upholding individual employment rights can be for workers in the UK’s labour market.” Harrison also observed that even when employees achieve favourable verdicts, many struggle to receive compensation.
Furthermore, Harrison remarked on the vital role of collective rights, facilitated through trade unions, in protecting workers, stating, “In practice, workers are far better protected by collective rights… than by an individualised system that places the burden of enforcement on workers themselves.” He concluded by emphasizing the critical need for enforcement, declaring, “Rights without enforcement are not rights at all.”
Jon Richards, assistant general secretary of Unison, concurred with the alarming assessment, noting, “Years of cuts under Conservative governments have left public services severely under-resourced.” He asserted that agencies responsible for public safety and regulatory standards have suffered particularly during these austerity measures. Richards called for urgent rebuilding of these institutions to ensure that laws are upheld and violators are held accountable.
Echoing this sentiment, a spokesperson from Unite reiterated the essential role of unions in upholding worker safety and ensuring employer accountability. “The safety and well-being of workers is never optional and must always be the highest priority in the workplace,” the spokesperson noted, advocating for robust government funding for the HSE and other enforcement bodies to prevent employers from skirting safety protocols.
In response to the critiques, a spokesperson for the HSE defended the agency’s enforcement record, asserting that “Britain continues to be one of the safest places to work in the world.” They argued that the measure of enforcement activity is not the sole indicator of impact, stating, “Over the past 10 years we have focused on the areas of greatest risk and targeted our inspection activity using insight and intelligence.” The spokesperson also pointed out the agency’s commitment to improving health and safety through various regulatory tools, highlighting efforts to influence industries and provide accessible guidance.
The current trend in regulatory enforcement raises critical questions about the balance between economic growth and the protection of workers’ rights and environmental integrity. As concerns mount over the implications of reduced enforcement actions, scrutiny on the government’s approach is likely to intensify, with advocates calling for a reassessment of priorities to ensure that the interests of the public and the planet are not sidelined in favour of corporate profitability.
Our Thoughts
The decline in enforcement actions by regulators, including the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), raises serious concerns regarding workplace safety in the UK. To avoid potential incidents, a robust enforcement framework needs to be reinstated. Prioritizing economic growth over stringent regulatory actions can set a dangerous precedent, as it potentially undermines worker safety and environmental protections.
Key safety lessons from this situation highlight the importance of adequately funded and empowered regulatory bodies capable of holding employers accountable for breaches of health and safety regulations, such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Failures in enforcement can lead to continued non-compliance by employers, placing workers at risk.
The reduction in penalties further creates an environment where businesses might disregard safety protocols without fear of repercussions, effectively breaching the legal obligations to protect workers. Enhancing the resources and authority of regulatory bodies, coupled with supporting collective rights through trade unions, could significantly mitigate similar incidents in the future, ensuring that health and safety regulations are not just theoretical but actively enforced and adhered to.
