Sarah Hooper
Published November 27, 2025 1:54pm
Updated November 27, 2025 1:55pm
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The CEO of Southern Water has been placed under citizens’ arrest by activists who accuse him of the ‘serious’ sewage pollution.
The Citizens’ Arrest Network detained Lawrence Gosden while he was on his way to a conference in London and placed him under a ‘citizen’s arrest’ as an act of protest.
Anti-pollution campaigners accused him of four counts of causing a public nuisance.
The allegations centre on illegal sewage spills, equipment maintenance standards, and the alleged ‘mismanagement’ of funds.
The women called the police and presented officers with a ‘dossier of evidence’ when they arrived, but the officers opted to release the CEO.
The group addressed him publicly this morning (Picture: SWNS)
A Citizen’s Arrest Network spokesperson said: ‘Under Gosden, Southern Water is responsible for the most serious category of sewage pollution into rivers and seas and is under investigation by the Environment Agency.
‘In July, a letter signed by ten MPs representing constituencies served by Southern Water urged Gosden to reject his bonus following bill increases and poor water quality.’
The group cited millions of toxic plastic beads which washed up on Camber Sands in East Sussex, which has been dubbed an ‘ecological disaster’.
‘The beads were released by Southern Water, who did not admit to this drastic pollution for weeks,’ they continued.
Southern Water did not initially claim responsibility for the Camber Sands spill, but on 10 November said it believed it had used the bio-beads in a wastewater treatment works.
They formed a human chain around him to ‘arrest’ him (Picture: SWNS)
The company said a screening filter failed, resulting in the beads being released into the sea.
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Southern Water said it began to work with partner agencies immediately after receiving reports of beads being washed up along the coastline.
Earlier this year, Mark Thurston, CEO of Anglican Water, was subjected to a citizen’s arrest on his way to work.
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Approaching Mark Thurston on a dark Autumnal morning, the activists formed a human chain to block his path.
They chanted: ‘The charge is public nuisance, and we believe you’re on your way to commit more.’
It was daylight when British Transport Police officers called by the women to arrest the CEO and escort him away. Thurston was seen hopping in a cab.
The group accused him of up to three counts of public nuisance, focusing on environmental damage and illegal sewage spills.
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