Lies, dam lies, and water co. statistics

Apr 10 2008 By The Stirrer

HERE'S some free careers advice to anyone thinking of becoming a robber.

Don't waste time buying a mask and a shotgun - just get yourself a smart suit and a job running one of Britain's water companies instead.

As bosses at Birmingham-based Severn Trent discovered this week, even if you're caught red-handed, there's no chance of being sent down.

The firm pleaded guilty in court on Tuesday to two charges of falsifying information about water leaks - vital information needed by the regulator Ofwat when it comes to setting prices.

It remains to be seen how big their fine will be, but this much we know for sure - the corporate crooks who fiddled the figures at their customers' expense will walk away scot free.

The Serious Fraud Office has confirmed it's only taking action against the business itself, not the individuals who cooked the books in the first place.

A spokesman from the SFO told me this week it's "not in the public interest" to take any further action against them.

Oh really? I reckon the Birmingham public, who have no choice but to take their water supply from Severn Trent, would have a real interest in seeing these pinstripe pick-pockets called to account by a judge.

On the same day as the court hearing, the company was also fined more than £35 million by the regulator Ofwat for poor customer service.

Again, there was some seriously dodgy dealing going on.

Performance standards were deliberately exaggerated over a four-year period, allowing the company to bump up its charges.

In other words, they took money by deception - yet none of those responsible will ever have to pay the price.

It wasn't the first time either. In 2005, Severn Trent had to hand back £4 million to customers who'd been over-charged. Again, no one was punished.

Shoplifters and muggers quite rightly fall foul of the law, so why does wearing a tie and working in an office make it acceptable to steal other people's cash?

The current management team led by John Wray had no involvement with any of these dubious practices and to their great credit, they even helped blow the whistle on the shocking state of affairs they inherited.

Good for them. But all the water in the Elan Valley reservoir won't flush away the stench of corruption surrounding this sordid affair.

Bring the villains to book, just as you would in any other area of life, and the tarnished reputation of Severn Trent Water might just be washed clean.