Gummed Up and Watered Down

Once more the moisture provision profiteering watchdog has deployed the gentlest gingival pressure and a dignified dry-humping of well-trousered corporate leg to steer a miscreant onto the path of righteousness. The latest penitent is South West Water, which has generously condescended to do its job in lieu of paying a fine for breaking the law. After two years of investigation, the regulator found that the company had not installed the proper equipment to prevent illegal sewage discharges, had not properly dealt with the sewage under its care, and had not adequately monitored its treatment works; but since the investigation was at the taxpeyer's expense there seems no good reason to burden real people with excessive financial obligations that might interfere with the next round of boardroom pay rises. Clean water ideologues are complaining as usual, apparently influenced by the antisemitic and dinosaurid dogma that corporate crime should be punishable; nevertheless, the Home Office has not so far announced plans to proscribe them as terrorists.