Determining the amount of a variable monetary penalty

Overview

Variable Monetary Penalties (VMPs) are a new enforcement measure made available to SEPA under the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 through which fines up to £40,000 can be imposed for certain environmental offences.

The aim of VMPs is to help address a compliance gap that exists between statutory notices and criminal prosecutions.

Why your views matter

We are fulfilling a commitment to our stakeholders that we would consult on how we intend to determine the amount of a VMP. This was given as part of the engagement that took place on our revised Enforcement Policy and new Enforcement Guidance in 2015.