Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill introduced

16/08/2007

The much debated Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill received Royal Assent on 26 July 2007. The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 (the "Act") will come into force on 6 April 2008 and creates a new criminal offence of corporate manslaughter for corporate and other bodies (such as Government departments and police forces). The new offence replaces the common law crime of manslaughter by gross negligence. An unlimited fine can be imposed on a company (or other organization) found to have caused death due to gross corporate health and safety failures. The Government is due to issue guidance for organisations affected by the Act in the autumn. We will keep you updated.

Contact: maustin@city-law.net

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