Environmental regulators, The Environment Agency and Natural England, have been given new powers to enforce environmental law in the UK. The new powers include the ability to issue monetary penalties and compliance notices. Not only will this reduce the need for disproportionate criminal prosecutions, it should also reduce the time wasted in criminal prosecutions. If all goes to plan, it should be an excellent example of reducing complication and increasing effectiveness of law enforcement in the UK. Agencies that get the new powers (which are covered by the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008), will need to place increased emphasis on fair and transparent processes surrounding the use of enforcement powers.