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Corporate Manslaughter Act Approved

Date of article:  30/07/2007

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Under the new law companies, organisations and, for the first time, Government bodies face an unlimited fine if they are found to have caused death due to their gross corporate health and safety failure.

The Act complements the current law under which individuals can be prosecuted for gross neglgence manslaughter and health and safety offences, where there is direct evidence of their culpability. Because it builds on existing health and safety legislation, the new offence does not impose new regulations on business.

Justice Minister Maria Eagle said: "The Corporate Manslaughter Bill is a ground-breaking piece of legislation. This is about ensuring justice for victims of corporate failures. For too long it has been virtually impossible to prosecute large companies for management failures leading to deaths.

"Today's Act changes this, for the first time companies and organisations can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter on the basis of gross corporate failures in health and safety. The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act will make it easier to prosecute companies who fall to protect people.

The Act will come into force on 6 April 2008 and the Ministry of Justice will issue further guidance for organisations affected by the Act in the autumn.

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