The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill finally received Royal Assent on 26 July 2007 and will come into force on 6 April 2008, with the exception of certain provisions in relation to deaths in custody. The government decided to change the law as very few companies have been successfully prosecuted for manslaughter.

New offence

The Act creates a new criminal offence of corporate manslaughter (or corporate homicide in Scotland). The new offence will apply to companies and other organisations, including partnerships. It will not apply to individuals and safety campaigners have criticised the absence of any new safety duties for directors. Individuals may still be charged with the common law offence of manslaughter or with health and safety offences. The number of individual prosecutions has increased in recent years.  Click here to read more.

Directors' responsibilities

Davies Arnold Cooper has prepared a briefing note on the new guidance on directors' responsibilities for health and safety.

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The corporate manslaughter bill

Who to contact:

Fiona Gill
020 7293 4255
fgill@dac.co.uk

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